The fight against AIDS, put into the spotlight on World AIDS Day (1st December), has been identified by world leaders as one of the most urgent issues of national and international development. The global AIDS epidemic continues to grow and there is concerning evidence that some countries are seeing resurgence in new HIV infection rates which were previously stable or declining.

However, declines in infection rates are also being observed in some countries, as well as positive trends in young people's sexual behaviours.

According to the latest figures published in the UNAIDS/WHO 2006 AIDS Epidemic Update, an estimated 39.5 million people are living with HIV/AIDS.

High-risk sex lives
Infection rates of the HIV are on the rise particularly among sex workers and injecting drug users. Many men are intentionally risking their lives by refusing to wear condoms during sex. While rates of HIV due to other factors like high prevalence in the neighbouring countries, frequent migration of people, lack of awareness of HIV infection, lack of voluntary blood donors and among those who receives blood from professional blood donor and homosexual are also encountered in our country.

Kalam (not a real name), first started having sex with commercial sex workers when he was 20. Two years ago, at the age of 22, he found himself a HIV positive.

He started having unprotected sex when he came to Dhaka from Rajbari as a salesman. He admitted that despite knowing about HIV/AIDS and the importance of condoms, he took risks by not using a barrier method. "I heard through radio and TV a lot regarding the importance of using condom during sex to get protected against HIV/AIDS", said Kalam. "One day I realised that due to this high risk behaviour, I may get infected soon". But it was too late for Kalam and he already got infected by HIV.

There are lots of cases like Kalam who is getting infected despite the burning awareness issues touching them.

A report recently revealed that a total of 109 persons out of 240 diagnosed with AIDS have so far died while 874 persons have been found HIV/AIDS positive since the disease was first detected in Bangladesh.

HIV prevention works but needs to be focused and sustained
Somewhere HIV prevention programmes are not reaching the people most at risk of infection, such as young people, women and girls, men who have sex with men, sex workers and their clients, injecting drug users, and ethnic and cultural minorities.

Making positive trends in young people's sexual behaviours like increased use of condoms, delay of sexual debut and fewer sexual partners can boost the prevention of AIDS.

It is imperative to continue to increase investment in both HIV prevention and treatment services to reduce unnecessary deaths and illness from this disease. The AIDS epidemic update and HIV surveillance throughout the country is necessary to find out people at highest risk.

An infected person is a source of infection. We need to ensure that the infection does not spread from this source, in order to stop the internal transmission. The infected person should be educated on how to take care of himself/herself. But these people unfortunately are not getting any treatment, proper food, or a place to stay. We need to give attention to this matter.

Knowing AIDS epidemic and understanding the drivers of the epidemic such as inequality between men and women and homophobia is absolutely fundamental to the long term response to AIDS. Action must not only be increased dramatically, but must also be strategic, focused and sustainable to ensure that the money reaches those who need it most.