Number of homosexuals in Pabna exceeds 1,600, 16 infected with AIDS

Health officials have expressed concern over the risk of HIV infection in Pabna. They have said that awareness and preventive activities need to be further strengthened among various high-risk groups in the district. According to the latest data, 16 people have been diagnosed with HIV in the district so far, which has attracted the attention of public health experts.

This information was presented at a workshop organized at the Pabna General Hospital conference room on Wednesday. Representatives of the hospital's Key Population (KP) Center presented the overall situation in the district at the program titled 'Human Rights and HIV in Bangladesh: Role of Media'. They said that regular healthcare, testing and awareness activities are being conducted among various vulnerable groups.

According to the information presented at the workshop, there are currently 1,615 gay men, 908 male sex workers, 765 female sex workers, 484 intravenous drug users and 110 members of the transgender community in the district who are identified as high-risk. Health officials said that regular health check-ups, raising awareness about safe behavior and ensuring medical services are very important in preventing HIV.

KP Center officials said that along with government and private initiatives, the media also has an important role to play in controlling the infection. Bringing the vulnerable population under the umbrella of healthcare, increasing social awareness and ensuring a non-discriminatory environment will be possible to achieve positive results in preventing HIV infection. Local journalists, health workers and representatives of various media outlets participated in the workshop.