The World AIDS Day was observed at Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) on Sunday, said ISPR.
The day is observed all over the world on December 1 which is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV.
The event was organised by Department of Community Medicine & Department of Microbiology of AFMC. This year the theme is ‘Communities make the difference’.
To mark the occasion a seminar was organized chaired by Major General Md Mustafizur Rahman, Commandant, AFMC. Major General Md Fashiur Rahman, Director General Medical Services, was present as the chief guest.
Speakers at the seminar highlighted the importance of World AIDS Day and the role of communities in combating AIDS. The keynote speaker was Brigadier General Md Rahimgir, Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology of AFMC. In addition, the cadets from AFMC-18, 19 and 20 batches presented papers on the topic, "An Overview on HIV/ AIDS". Later, a colourful rally was brought out at the AFMC campus.
According to UNAIDS, 2018 global factsheet, 37.9 million people globally were living with HIV among them about 23.3 million people were accessing antiretroviral therapy or ARV. About 1.7 million people became newly infected with HIV during this period while 770,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses.
The fact sheet also says that 74.9 million people have become infected with HIV since the start of the epidemic, 320 million people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic.
In Bangladesh, adults and children newly infected with HIV was 1600 as of 2018. The HIV incidence per 1000 population (all ages) is 0.01; adult and child deaths due to AIDS is around 1000 and people living with HIV is estimated to be 14, 000.
HIV is the virus that causes HIV infection. AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection. HIV is spread through contact with the blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, or breast milk of a person with HIV.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the use of HIV medicines to treat HIV infection. People on ART take a combination of HIV medicines (called an HIV regimen) every day. ART is recommended for everyone who has HIV. ART can’t cure HIV infection, but HIV medicines help people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. HIV medicines can also reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
Major General Md Mahbubur Rahman, Consultant Surgeon General ; Major General Susane Giti, Commandant, AFIP and Major General Md Azizul Islam, Consultant Physician General, Bangladesh Armed Forces were present as special guests.
The programme was started with the welcome address by Brig Gen Md Saidur Rahman, Deputy Commandant, AFMC. Vote of thanks was given by Md. Abdur Razzaq, Founder Managing Director, JMI Group.