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20,000 HIV positives :“Bangladesh is sitting on a time bomb” |
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June 21, 2000
Dhaka (UNB)- Bangladesh may have 20,000 HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infected cases, World Health Organization (WHO) estimated the number of people exposed to the deadly disease of AIDS.
The estimate was based on various factors including sexual behavior, sexual transmitted diseases, blood transfusion and prevalence of HIV infection cases in neighboring countries.
Talking to newsmen at ‘Meet the Press’ this afternoon WHO representative in Bangladesh Dr W Hardjotanojo expressed apprehension that “Bangladesh is sitting on a time bomb. If ignored, what would be the situation if the bomb is exploded!”
The officially reported HIV infected cases in Bangladesh is 100. Of them, 10 have been identified developed as AIDS (Aquaired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome), according to a health official.
It needs about 10 years to develop AIDS after infected with HIV, said the health expert.
The WHO representative, however, praised Bangladesh for its efforts and tremendous progress in eradicating polio, case management of Diarrheal disease and malaria.
At the end of 2000, Dr Hardjotanojo hoped that there would be no fresh cases of polio transmitted by wild poliovirus. The success of Bangladesh in this respect has drawn attention world over, he added.
About case management of diarrhea and malaria, the WHO mission chief said, “you can compare with any of the developing countries with the good rating.”
Fatality of the severe malaria cases is less than 10 percent who are admitted to hospital, he said adding hopefully malaria would be under control but eradication is a long way to go.
Replying to a query he however said the malaria control programme suffered much --it needed lot of doings.
Referring to an assessment of a UN expert from its Headquarters who visited Bangladesh recently he said medical services in Bangladesh is reasonably well.
“We can not compare medical services with developed countries. It is not fair,” Hardjotanojo observed.
The WHO representative urged the newsmen not to create panic by reporting piecemeal information without going deep into the picture.
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