Rajshahi: A HIV/AIDS laboratory has been opened in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) on Thursday for the first time in order to provide necessary healthcare services to the people vulnerable to the virus and its infection, according to a BSS report.

From now on, the lab will contribute a lot towards extending necessary services like test, consultation and treatment to the target group in the region.

To mark the occasion, RMCH organized an advocacy and discussion meeting on the issue of HIV/AIDS in its conference hall.

Fazley Hossain Badsha, MP, Chairman of RMCH Management Board, addressed the discussion as chief guest with Director Brig Gen Nasir Uddin in the chair. Local unit BMA General Secretary Dr Khalilur Rahman, RMCH Deputy Director Dr Toufiqul Islam Belal and Assistant Director Dr Serajul Karim also spoke.

During their keynote presentations, Medical Consultants from National

AIDS Management Center, Dr Mustaque Parvez and Dr Moin Uddin, narrated the risk factors of HIV/AIDS and its treatment.

They mentioned that the main challenge to prevent the HIV/AIDS is now being adjudged as the stigma and negative attitude towards the vulnerable population like transgender, MSM, injecting drug users, sex workers and professional blood donors.

They, however, emphasized the need for protecting the infected persons from their human rights violations as they are also the integral part of the society.

They stated that the universal access is a commitment to scale up access to HIV treatment, prevention, care and support with the support from government development partners and civil society.

The experts unequivocally called for more public awareness about the existing risks of HIV/AIDS to prevent its havoc stressing the need for collective efforts of all quarters.

Lawmaker Badsha said HIV/AIDS is not only health issue but also social development concern adding that only the government or any single organization isn’t capable to resist the HIV/AIDS infection as its risk and vulnerability is gradually being increased due to various reasons.

Instead of sporadic efforts, holistic approach has become an urgent need for more public awareness about the prevailing risks of HIV/AIDS for its successful prevention.

He viewed collective efforts of all quarters especially the community people together with the law enforcing agencies, narcotics and drug control department and all other gatekeepers is very important to prevent anymore infection of the deadly virus.