Call to ensure proper treatment of HIV-positive people

World AIDS Day will be observed across the world today to raise awareness about the pandemic, to educate people on preventive measures and to ensure proper treatment of HIV-positive people. The theme of this day is “Getting to Zero”, which refers to zero new infection, zero discrimination against AIDS patients and zero AIDS-related deaths. Public sector and private healthcare institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals around the world will observe the day with various programmes on AIDS prevention and control. In Bangladesh, public sector entities like the health and family welfare ministry, different NGOs like Save the Children, CARE Bangladesh and Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM), as well as other local and foreign NGOs, will hold rallies, seminars and discussion meetings, exhibitions and different programmes to mark the day. According to a UNAIDS report, 36.9 million people are currently living with HIV, and new HIV infections among adults and children are estimated at 2 million in 2014, registering a 35 per cent slide since 2000.
In 2014, it was estimated that 8,900 people were living with HIV and 563 persons died of the infection in Bangladesh. The same year, 433 new cases were detected in the country. A total of 309 children (under 14 years) was found to be living with HIV and the estimated number of newly infected ones among them was 63.
Sheikh Masudul Alam, deputy director of Save the Children, said recently at a press conference that the large number of infected children can be attributed to mother-to-child viral transmission. In 2014, it was estimated that 799 young people were living with HIV and the reported number of new HIV cases was 58.  In Bangladesh, women accounted for 30 per cent of the newly reported cases, according to a report. The first World AIDS Day was held in 1988 after health ministers from around the world had met in London and agreed to observe the day to highlight the enormity of the AIDS pandemic and the necessity to to ensure universal treatment, care and support for HIV-positive people. The ongoing international theme from 2011 to 2015, Getting to Zero, has been set by the World AIDS Campaign, an international coalition of HIV and AIDS groups and networks.

Call to ensure proper treatment of HIV-positive people

World AIDS Day will be observed across the world today to raise awareness about the pandemic, to educate people on preventive measures and to ensure proper treatment of HIV-positive people. The theme of this day is Getting to Zero, which refers to zero new infection, zero discrimination against AIDS patients and zero AIDS-related deaths. Public sector and private healthcare institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals around the world will observe the day with various programmes on AIDS prevention and control. In Bangladesh, public sector entities like the health and family welfare ministry, different NGOs like Save the Children, CARE Bangladesh and Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM), as well as other local and foreign NGOs, will hold rallies, seminars and discussion meetings, exhibitions and different programmes to mark the day. According to a UNAIDS report, 36.9 million people are currently living with HIV, and new HIV infections among adults and children are estimated at 2 million in 2014, registering a 35 per cent slide since 2000. In 2014, it was estimated that 8,900 people were living with HIV and 563 persons died of the infection in Bangladesh. The same year, 433 new cases were detected in the country. A total of 309 children (under 14 years) was found to be living with HIV and the estimated number of newly infected ones among them was 63. Sheikh Masudul Alam, deputy director of Save the Children, said recently at a press conference that the large number of infected children can be attributed to mother-to-child viral transmission. In 2014, it was estimated that 799 young people were living with HIV and the reported number of new HIV cases was 58. In Bangladesh, women accounted for 30 per cent of the newly reported cases, according to a report. The first World AIDS Day was held in 1988 after health ministers from around the world had met in London and agreed to observe the day to highlight the enormity of the AIDS pandemic and the necessity to to ensure universal treatment, care and support for HIV-positive people. The ongoing international theme from 2011 to 2015, Getting to Zero, has been set by the World AIDS Campaign, an international coalition of HIV and AIDS groups and networks.