Kaladan News

 

Dated: Tuesday, May 31, 2005

 

 

A Workshop on HIV/ AIDs Launched in Burmese Refugee Camp

 

Teknaf, May 31: A workshop on raising awareness about HIV/Aids was launched in the Burmese refugee camp of Nayapara on May 29, 2005.

 

The young and old, male and female at about 100 refugees from the refugee camp were participated in the workshop.

 

This kind of workshop will be held in phases on ways to prevent transmission of HIV in near future, said Khan Nobinur Rahaman Wahid, field assistant of UNHCR, according to a participant named Shomsul Alam.

 

“The main objective is to empower the refugees with information, skills and knowledge related to the issue so that they can initiate actions in combating HIV/AIDs said,” Medical Team Leader AKM Abdul Noor who was also presentation of key notes of the workshop.

 

Organized by the UNHCR of HIV/Aids Foundation Project of FDAB Cox’s Bazar and funded by UNICEF, the workshop on “Advocacy for prevention of HIV/ Aids” held on 29th May, said another participant named Shabbir.

 

The trainer of FDAB Mohammad Iqbal advised to the refugees in turn will organize campaigns to educate other refugees on how to prevent transmission of HIV and eventually raise social awareness among the young generation about the prevention of the deadly disease, he further said.

 

Advocate Ayub Rahaman, Chairman of the workshop delivered the welcome address at the opening session of the workshop.

 

 Lead facilitator of the workshop Mohammad Iqbal and Dr. Monsorul Hakim, medical officer of FDAB, and also technical analyst for HIV/Aids, said it is a global advocacy campaign by and for the young people to ensure that policies, programs as well as financial and personal investment in young people are taken into consideration by the policy makers while dealing with HIV/Aids issue.

 

 Mr. Assaduz Zaman, the Camp-in-Charge and also Chief Guest of the workshop said, “The old policy has proved inadequate to ensure the care and treatment support to the people with the disease. The treatment and care support is very poor in the country. The policymakers should come out of the thoughts of old policy and introduce new policy of 2005.”

 

Terming drugs HIV/Aids as major threats to young generation across the globe and no country was free from the potential twine curses.  He called on the NGOs to come forward and supplement government efforts to effectively prevent spread of Aids and drug addiction.

 

Mohammad Hafizur Rahaman, police inspector of the refugee camp, Sha Alam, Sofador of Nayapara BDR camp, Khan Nabinur Rahaman Wahid, field assistant of UNHCR, Abdur Rahim, officer of Ansar attended the workshop while Mohamed Abul Khasem, an officer of FDAB of Chittagong Branch was a chief guest, Shah Alam a participant confirmed. ##

 

 

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