Integrating HIV treatment with the sexual reproductive health regime remains a priority for UNAIDS in Bangladesh. It said in a media release that this would be reflected in the application for new and ongoing funding through ‘The Global Fund’.Sex workers, gays, transgender populations, and injecting drug users are consider as ‘key’ target groups as they run the risk of HIV infections the most.
But UNAIDS says social stigma and discrimination keeps them away from availing the preventive measures and other treatment.
UNAIDS Bangladesh Country Coordinator Leo Kenny said it was ‘critical’ that service systems provide “an entry” point to address sexual and reproductive health and gender based violence while providing improved maternal and child health.
Speaking at a training workshop supported by UNAIDS, Kenny also stressed sensitising and building capacities of service providers to address sexual and gender based violence while linking sexual and reproductive health and HIV “prevention and care” .
The two-day training that ended Wednesday was aimed at creating a learning environment for the target groups to better understand sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS while finding ways to integrate the two.
Bangladesh Rural Advancement through Voluntary Enterprise (BRAVE), government’s National AIDS/STD Programme (NASP), and Bandhu Society Welfare Society (BSWS) jointly organised the training, said a press release. – bdnews24.com
