'Sylhet is the most vulnerable area for HIV'

The highest number of 40 out of the total 248 people tested positive for the disease in the country is in the region, according to official statistics presented at a seminar here yesterday.

The speakers stressed the need for launching a vigorous awareness campaign with a special attention to Sylhet.

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Some speakers expressed doubt about the officially recorded number of HIV positive cases in the country. The actual figure may be much higher, they said mentioning records in other Asian countries including India.

The WHO has estimated the number of HIV positive cases in Bangladesh at around 13,000, they said.

HIV/AIDS should be treated as a development and human rights issue and integrated to poverty alleviation programmes, they said.

The Bangladesh Human Rights Journalists Forum (BMSF) and CARE organized the workshop, participated by journalists, lawyers and NGO representatives working with HIV/AIDS prevention programme.

Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran attended the inaugural function as chief guest while Dr Shibbir Ahmed Shibly, head of Community Medicine, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, and Sylhet Press Club President Iqbal Siddiquee spoke as special guests.

Syed Imtiaz Ahmed, Programme Officer of CARE also spoke at the workshop with BMSF Executive Director Khairuzzaman Kamal in the chair.

The mayor said creating awareness among people is the best way to prevent the disease. Any person tested HIV/AIDS positive should not be neglected in the society. This would be a violation of human rights, he said.

He also stressed on strict adherence to religious values to prevent the disease.