Mass-media, both print and electronics, has a vital role to play towards changing mindset towards the transgender and other socially excluded people to ensure their fundamental rights, discussants at a meeting said here today.
They viewed that the transgender, male sex-workers and HIV/AIDS infected people are subjected to social stigma and various disparity.The observations came at a follow-up meeting with media forum team on “HIV and STI Prevention Project” organized by Light House, a rights-based organisation, at its Madhumita Center in the city.Mofazzal Hossain, Center Manager of Light House (Modhumita Center), Chompa Barmon, Project Manager (HIV/STD Prevention) and Asaduzzaman Sarker, Programme Officer of SMC, spoke on the occasion as focal persons.Executive Editor of Daily Sonar Desh Akbarul Hassan Millat and News Editor of Daily Sonali Sangbad Anwarul Alam Fatik also spoke on the occasion.In her presentation, Chompa Barmon mentioned that although there is low prevalence of HIV and AIDS in the region, it is very vulnerable due to high prevalence in neighbouring countries.Among the regional status, HIV and AIDS prevalence is 2.1 million in India, 61,000 in Nepal, 7,500 in Bangladesh and 2,40,00 in Myanmar,
she stated.Sharing basic facts of HIV/AIDS he discussed on how media persons can play their role in creating awareness of critical social issues.She also emphasised the need for creating awareness among the people about the chronic diseases, its causes and prevention with a view to containing the spread of this disease in the region.The Hijra community is essentially deprived of several rights under the country’s existing law, because it recognizes only two sexes, male and female. “There is an acute stigma in our society about the HIV/AIDS, we cannot freely discuss it at our dining table as it is
very much related to sexual transmission and drug injection,” added Chompa Barmon.Taking part in the open discussion local media personnel focused on how stigma and discrimination can be reduced to a greater extent and media can provide appropriate information to the general masses about
the critical issues of HIV/AIDS.Role of service providers and media should be more proactive in establishing rights of the transgender and other socially excluded people for the sake of preventing HIV/AIDS. -BSS, Rajshahi
