Worlds AID Day 2007

The Red Ribbon


The Red Ribbon is the global symbol for solidarity with HIV-positive people and those living with AIDS. World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.

UNAIDS and the WHO estimate that the total number of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has reached its highest level. As of 2006, there are an estimated 40.3 million (estimated range between 36.7 and 45.3 million) people now living with HIV. Moreover, almost 5 million people have been estimated to have been infected with HIV in 2005 alone.

AIDS has killed more than 25 million people, with an estimated 38.6 million people living with HIV, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 3.1 million (between 2.8 and 3.6 million) lives in 2005 of which, more than half a million (570,000) were children.

The concept of a World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then, it has been taken up by governments, international organizations and charities around the world.

From its inception until 2004, UNAIDS spearheaded the World AIDS Day campaign, choosing annual themes in consultation with other global health organizations. World AIDS theme for 2007 Stop AIDS. Keep the promise- Leader.

Likely spread from animal to human population A variety of theories exist explaining the transfer of HIV to humans, but no single hypothesis is unanimously accepted, and the topic remains controversial.

The most widely accepted theory is so called 'Hunter' Theory according to which transference from ape to human most likely occurred when a human was bitten by an ape or was cut while butchering one, and the human became infected.

Two species of HIV infect humans: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is more virulent and more easily transmitted. HIV-1 is the source of the majority of HIV infections throughout the world, while HIV-2 is less easily transmitted and is largely confined to West Africa .

Both species of the virus (HIV-1 and HIV-2) are believed to have originated in West-Central Africa and jumped species (zoonosis) from a non-human primate to humans. HIV-1 evolved from a Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIVcpz) found in the chimpanzee subspecies Pan troglodytes troglodytes. SIVs in non-human primates tend to cause non-fatal disease.

Bangladesh scenario of HIV HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) epidemic infected so far is within fair limit, but is appreciatively wide open to increase owing to prevalence of certain behavioural patterns and risk factors.

The swift rise of HIV/AIDS prevalence among the high risk groups, including sex workers, injecting drug users (IDUs), and men having sex with men. For example, in a pocket of central Bangladesh , the HIV prevalence rate among the IDUs jumped from 1.4 per cent to 4 per cent to 8.9 per cent in just a three-year period.

WHO report on Bangladesh still considers low HIV/AIDS prevalent country. The WHO estimates there are 13,000 HIV-positive people in the country and the HIV prevalence among the adult population is less than 0.01 per cent.


Latest information available with the National AIDS/STD Programme (NASP), a cumulative total of 874 cases of HIV/AIDS was confirmed as of December 31, 2006. While the government agencies concerned estimate nearly 7,500 people are now infected with HIV/AIDS, donor agencies including the UNAIDS put the figure at around 11,

According to National HIV Surveillance findings the rate of HIV infection among the street-based sex workers in central Bangladesh is higher than that among the sex workers in other parts of South Asia .

There are more than 105,000 sex workers, both female and male, in the country. On an average, a brothel-based female sex worker reportedly serve around 18 clients a week, a street-based sex worker 17, and a hotel-based sex worker as many as 44 clients.

The majority of brothel-based sex workers report having sex without using condoms with some of their clients. Country-wide, the brothel-based sex workers report consistent condom use with 2.8 per cent of their regular clients and 5.2 per cent with new clients. Of the clients, who include rickshaw-pullers and truckers, only 1.5 to 4.6 per cent report to have consistently used condoms when having sex with female sex workers.

In central Bangladesh 9.7 per cent and in south-eastern Bangladesh 12 per cent female sex workers have been found to be infected with syphilis. The high rates of syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) confirm the low rate of condom use and the presence of other risky sexual behaviours that facilitate the spread of HIV infection.

According to experts, the level of HIV infection among the IDUs poses a significant risk, as it can spread rapidly within the group and then through their sexual partners and the latter's clients among the general population.

Another major concern is the significant number of IDUs who sell their blood professionally. Bangladesh relies on professional blood-sellers to meet most of the blood transfusion needs of its people.

Lack of proper knowledge on HIV/AIDS is another high-risk factor. Only 17 per cent of the most-at-risk groups have correct knowledge about prevention of the disease and most people have misconceptions about it. A baseline survey of adolescents and young people (15-24 years) in 2005 found that only one out of three males in urban and one out of four in rural areas had correct knowledge on HIV/AIDS. Nearly 59 per cent of the married women and 42 per cent of men of the age group of 15-54 years have no idea about how to avoid HIV.

Therefore, it is imperative to give priority to education, poverty alleviation, and regular media coverage for disseminating knowledge about HIV/AIDS and to offer sex education to the adolescents and the young under an academic programme, suggested Mohammad Shafiqur Rahman and Mohammad Lutfor Rahman, researchers at the Dhaka University Institute of Statistical Research and Training.

Meanwhile, an initiative has been taken to develop a multi-sector response to HIV/AIDS. Strategic action plans of the NASP set forth specific guidelines on a range of HIV issues, including testing, care, blood safety, and preventive measures for youth, women, migrant workers, and commercial sex workers.

The government also prepared a National Strategic Plan for combating HIV/AIDS for the period of 2004-2010 under the guidance of the National AIDS Council and with the involvement and support of different stakeholders. Efforts to mainstream HIV/AIDS in public sectors outside the health and family welfare ministry were initiated through designation and training of focal points on HIV/AIDS at 16 government ministries.


Infection Diseases Hospital at Mohakhali provides treatment to HIV/AIDS patients, who also can get services at discount from the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and the Armed Forces Pathology. The government also has established voluntary counselling and testing centres in every district and upazila.

As many as 380 NGOs, AIDS service organisations, and civil society bodies have been implementing various programmes/projects across the country to contain the epidemic. These initiatives are focused on prevention of sexual transmission of the virus among the
"Currently we are in the process of evaluating the performance of different NGOs in terms of utilisation of donors' funding and progress towards their targets," said Dr SM Mustafa Anwar, line director of the NASP.

The UN has revised downwards its global estimate of the numbers infected with HIV/Aids, as a result of better information and understanding of the disease. Last year UNAids and the World Health Organisation (WHO) said 39.5 million people were infected with HIV and would need life-saving treatment now, or in the near future. But today the UNAids annual report says the true figure is 33.2 million.
The substantial drop in numbers will provoke critics of the UN, some of whom have accused its Aids-combating arm of artificially inflating the scale of the pandemic in order to attract more funds.
Billy I Ahmed is Columnist & Researcher

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Billy I Ahmed is a Tea Planter turned into a Columnist and Researcher, writing for leading English Dailies and Journal in Bangladesh as well as overseas online newsletter. Billy is a Fellow Member of Business AssociationUK and Diploma in Tropical Agriculture UK. Billy I Ahmed Experienced in writing feature articles • Well versed in copyediting and proof reading. • Strong technical command of English language familiar with virtually all writing styles serious commitment to excellence lexicography.
Please visit my website http://www.journalhome.com/profiles/Billy http://www.writesight.com/writer/Billy
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