Include HIV/AIDS in SSC, HSC syllabuses

Speakers at a workshop held here yesterday made the suggestion, saying the disease is spreading alarmingly across the world.

They told the workshop that about 15,000 people are being attacked with HIV/AIDS daily and half of them belong to the 15-24 age group.

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About 8200 people died of AIDS every day in the world and a large of the victims are young people. So, it is very important to introduce HIV/ AIDS at SSC and HSC levels to create awareness among the young generation, they said.

The workshop on 'Creating Awareness About HIV/ AIDS at Grassroots Level' was organised by a local NGOPIACTwith funds from Bangladesh government and Save the Children, USA.

With Nilphamari Civil Surgeon Abdur Rahim in the chair, it was attended by Family Planning Deputy Director Toufiqur Rahman, the Social Welfare Department Deputy Director, teachers, students, scouts, Imams (religious leaders), journalists and NGO representatives.

They said young boys and girls should know about the disease. Parents and teachers should also talk freely with boys and girls about AIDS and other health related matters.

They said the disease spreads mainly through certain type of travelers, who enter the country through land routes. The government can examine the possibility of creating facilities at land ports to check travelers for HIV/AIDS, they said.

Nilphamari Civil Surgeon said the government has taken various measures at different levels to create awareness among peoeeple and check spread of the disease.

But the prime concern of the government is that Bangladesh is surrounded by countries where the disease is spreading fast and that cross-border visits by people are frequent for trade and other purposes.

In present day world, travel can neither be restricted nor foreign visitors checked for HIV/AIDS. So we must strengthen measures inside. Creating awareness is the only viable and most effective option, he said. The civil society, NGOs and the media can play a vital role in this regard.

He said spread of the disease in Bangladesh is still very insignificant. But there is no scope for complacence.

PIACT Monitoring Officer Md Ziauddin in key note paper said the print and electronic media can play a vital role in creating AIDS awareness among common people.