HIV/AIDS – A Challenge for Human Development

[Mohammad Khairul Alam]

HIV/AIDS – A Challenge for Human Development


-Mohammad Khairul Alam-
-Executive Director-
-Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foudation-





Acquired Immune Defiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a viral Sexual Transmission Diseases (STDs) which threatens life expectancy and, with it, development, social cohesion, political stability and food security. It imposes a devastating economic burden on countries. It affects everyone in both developed and less develops countries. It is not a disease of poverty. It is not individual problem. But the epidemic does push people deeper into poverty, making it more difficult for them to sustain or recover their earlier livelihoods. That, in turn, can make people and their families more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection.

In Bangladesh, commercial female sex workers (CSWs) are among the most vulnerable groups. Certainly, young women’ prostitution is mounting in Bangladesh. Young women engage or are forced into prostitution for trafficking or socio-economic reasons. Most of them CSWs are the age of teen and illiterate. Their profession exposes them to tremendous risk and increases the likelihood of their partners/customers also being infected. Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation carried out a recent field investigation, the research confirmed that adolescent girls’ prostitution is widespread in Bangladesh, although hidden at first sight from foreigners, especially in Dhaka city. Adolescent girls involved in prostitution are to be found in residence homes converted into brothels or in hotels. The majority are aged 15-18.


Sharing injecting equipment is other most effective ways of spreading an HIV/AIDS epidemic. Studies in several regions in Bangladesh have shown that there is no shortage of risky behaviour among injection drug users (IDUs). This is due to the fact that injection drug use is usually illegal and a socially difficult issue, but also to the widespread perception that HIV/AIDS epidemics among drug users are “impartial”.


In addition to transmission through the sharing of injection equipment, injecting drug users can also transmit HIV/AIDS to their sexual partners. Indeed, Association for Social Advancement & Rural Rehabilitation (ASARR) research had shown sexual links between drug users and other communities. In the first place, male and female injection drug users (IDUs) sometimes sell sex, and some male IDUs are regular clients of commercial female sex workers. If these individuals are infected with HIV/AIDS while sharing needles with other IDUs, there is every chance that they will go on to infect sex workers who in turn may infect clients who have nothing to do with the world of Injection Drugs.


AIDS in Bangladesh therefore depends on the conditions in the commercial sex business, including the frequency of the incidents of men visiting female sex workers. Providing clean needles is also considered important because it decreases the spread of HIV from injection drug users (IDUs). It is also important to bring a behavioural change among commercial sex workers (CSWs) by promoting the use of condom.


Despite the growing public awareness of the existence of the HIV crisis, the actual knowledge of the problem is superficial, particularly vulnerable groups. Their understanding of the modes of transmission and prevention methods is incomplete and often misconstrued. This low level of understanding handicaps positive behavioral changes to prevent infection.



References:
1. WHO report, HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific Region, 2005.
2. “From Involvement to Empowerment”, UNDP, 2004
3. ASARR report, 2006