HIV
(Human Immuno-defiviency Virus) is a virus that is only found in human
beings which attacks and slowly damages the bodyâ¿¿s immune system so
that the body cannot defend itself against infections and diseases. HIV
causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) which represents a
group of particular medical conditions called â¿¿AIDS-defining
conditions or illnessesâ¿ (like â¿¿cold soresâ¿, swollen lymph nodes,
shingles, skin rashes and irritations, occasional fevers, nail
infections, weight loss, brain infections and Tuberculosis
(Barrett-Grant et al 2001 in Grundling J.P et al..2003). Since, Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) first emerged more than 25 years ago; it
has spread relentlessly around the globe. After the first clinical
evidence of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was reported, it
has become the most devastating disease humankind has ever faced.
HIV/AIDS is now the leading cause of death in Sub-Saharan Africa. Kaiser
Family Foundationâ¿¿s updated data on HIV/AIDS reveal that total
25,800,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Worldwide, it is the fourth biggest killer. Today globally more than 40
million people are living with HIV/AIDS (UNFPA.org). The diversity of
HIV epidemics around the world is becoming more apparent. Though it
seems that the epidemic does not follow the same course in all
societies, HIV/AIDS now is a global issue. It has been proven over time,
all over the world that HIV/AIDS has major health, political, social,
economic and legal consequences, which will touch almost all aspects of
human life. This in turn threatens the national development and efforts
to improve the quality of life of the people.
HIV/AIDS has become a major health threat in developing countries. More
than 95 percent of all HIV-infected people live in the developing world
and 95% percent of all AIDS deaths also occur in developing countries
(UNFPA.org). Though, HIV/AIDS was late coming to Asia, until the late
1980s, Asia is now facing an exploding HIV/AIDS epidemic. The disease is
taking hold in many countries in Asia- as many as 4.58 million Indians
are living with HIV/AIDS, in Thailand an estimated 6.7 million people
are living with HIV/AIDS and in China people living with HIV/AIDS have
increased from 6.0 million to 8.4 million during 2000 to 2003 (UNAIDS
report 2004). In South Asia, the transmission route is heterosexual
contact and sharing of injecting equipments. Through the region,
injecting drug use is adding to the rapid spread of the epidemic. Some
Asian countries including Bangladesh, East Timor, Laos, Pakistan, and
the Philippines are still seeing relatively low prevalence of HIV/AIDS
among general population with high vulnerability and have golden
opportunities to pre-emt serious outbreaks.
Given the prevalence of various risk factors across multiple high risk
groups, Bangladesh is at risk of a HIV/AIDS epidemic. AIDS was first
diagnosed in Bangladesh in 1989. As of December 2001, Department of
Virology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) detected
182 (male: 147, female: 35) individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The
Department of Virology, BSMMU, reported the detection of 219
HIV-positive cases on the basis of confirmatory tests up to December
2002. In reality, HIV/AIDS epidemic in Bangladesh is not very well
understood and data are only partly known as the reported data come from
national reference laboratory. However, estimates for Bangladesh (2003)
suggest that there are 15,000 HIV/AIDS cases in the country. Due to its
large population, an increased in prevalence of HIV by 1% in Bangladesh
would translate into 1.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS.
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