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In Bangladesh’s population of 160
million, just 2,533 people are known to have HIV. However, experts contend that
under-reporting and insufficient monitoring may be masking possible progression
toward an epidemic.
A June 2011 sero-surveillance report
indicated HIV was confined to “high-risk” categories including injecting drug
users (IDUs), commercial sex workers (CSWs), men who have sex with men, and
migrant workers. The report surveyed 2,894 individuals from 36 geographical
areas.
Although the survey reported HIV
prevalence at only 0.7 percent, it noted a 3 percent prevalence of active
syphilis, suggesting high rates of STDs. A 2006 national study pointed to a 25
percent STD burden among males 15-24, and 21 percent among females of that age
group. Experts maintain that high STD rates are an indicator of risky sexual
behavior that can also spread HIV.
Bangladesh UNAIDS Coordinator Leo
Kenny credits the low prevalence to early and timely governmental intervention.
Mohammad Abdul Waheed, who heads Bangladesh’s national program on HIV/AIDS,
agreed: “We moved to address HIV transmission four years before actually
detecting the first HIV case [1989].”
Bangladesh’s low HIV prevalence has
kept it on course to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goal for ending
HIV transmission by 2015. However, HIV/AIDS professionals say numerous factors
- including under-reporting, limited voluntary testing, social stigma,
increasing numbers of IDUs, transient CSWs, infrequent condom use, numerous
young migrant workers, and a porous border with India - make the country
vulnerable to an epidemic in the general population
Habiba Akhter, executive director of
the Ashar Alo Society, a non-governmental organization caring for those with
HIV/AIDS, said many countries mistakenly once believed the virus was confined
to high-risk groups. “Look at India, South Africa, and Thailand,” said Akhter.
“All these countries initially denied having the virus in the general
population.”
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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