Md Hasanur Rahman Tanzir:
According to the data of the United Nations HIV-AIDS agency UNAIDS, the number of AIDS patients in Bangladesh is 0.1 percent of the total population. According to UNAIDS data, the number of AIDS patients in Bangladesh is more than 14 thousand. However, only eight thousand patients are under treatment in the country.
205 people have died in Bangladesh this year due to this infection. And so far the total death has been 1 thousand 588 people.
However, due to the development of modern medicine and treatment systems worldwide, the death rate of AIDS patients has decreased a lot. Now it is possible to survive for a long time even if you have AIDS if you get treatment at the right time.
According to the data of the National AIDS/STD Control Department of Bangladesh, the rate of bringing patients under medical care after being diagnosed with AIDS is increasing every year.
According to UN requirements, the goal is to reach at least 95 percent of AIDS patients in medical care. This target should be achieved within the next five years.
The Bangladesh Country Manager of UNAIDS says, “The strategy of UNAIDS for the next five years is, You are equal to you. Undetectable is equal to untransmissible. That is, if I can reduce the virus in the body by taking medicine to such a level that it can no longer spread. Then my HIV is not spreading, I can live longer too.”
“There are many modern drugs in ARV drugs, their side effects are very less but the effectiveness is very high. One can greatly reduce, but not eliminate, the virus in one’s body. The treatment is so good that if taken regularly, the drug should be taken for life and keep the viral load down. As a result, he will not have any impact on his own body, nor will it spread to the body of others. Then a person can lead a completely normal life despite being infected,” he says.
According to the officials, the first person diagnosed with AIDS in Bangladesh in 1989 is still alive and well. He is in regular contact with HIV treatment programs.
AIDS treatment services are provided by the government in Bangladesh. There is no opportunity to take this service at the private level yet. There are 27 AIDS detection centers across the country and treatment is provided from 11 centers.
According to the official statement of Bangladesh, at least 84 percent of those who have been diagnosed with AIDS can be treated. Among those infected are male and female sex workers, homosexuals, people with tuberculosis, migrant workers, mothers visiting hospitals for delivery services, and Rohingya. 33 percent of the victims are common people.
AIDS treatment does not require hospitalization. Most of the patients take treatment from home. But they have to get regular supply of medicines from the designated center and keep in touch with the doctor. Oral medicine is given for adults and syrup for children. But if someone has any other physical complications besides AIDS, then he needs to be admitted to the hospital and get treatment for that disease.
Bangladesh Country Coordinating Mechanism (BCCM) member Hafiz Uddin Munna says that the government of Bangladesh is making a lot of efforts to treat AIDS, but some challenges still remain.
