Media role imperative for HIV prevention

The mass media should play a vital role in building massive awareness about HIV/AIDS for saving people from the deadly disease, said speakers at a press conference in the capital yesterday.

Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) organised the conference at its Dhanmondi office with support from Save the Children marking World AIDS Day to be observed on December 1, said a press release.

Referring to a report of UNAIDS, Deputy Director of Save the Children Sheikh Masudul Alamin said in Bangladesh an estimated 309 children (aged 0-14 years) were living with HIV in 2014 and the estimated number of new infections among children was 63 while women accounted for 30 percent of newly reported cases.

Community-based HIV prevention and treatment interventions by including the most marginalised groups need to be scaled up, said speakers.

Director General of Press Institute of Bangladesh Mohammad Shah Alamgir Hossain attended the programme as chief guest and DAM President Kazi Rafiqul Alam was in the chair.