The Bikrampur Times

Fighting AIDS

I am highly encouraged to note that Global Fund, the world’s leading organization fighting Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Tuberculosis, and Malaria, will continue to support Bangladesh in its fight against these diseases. According to a news item, Global Fund will give 39 million dollar to Bangladesh within 2012 for the purpose.
Money is very important for the fight. But more important is awareness about the perils.
Dissemination of information about AIDS has become urgently necessary in Bangladesh. This is a pandemic that involves every body whether affected or not. It affects the economy that has direct bearing on the social activities. Doctors, specialists and the scientists are trying hard to fight the pandemic. Awareness programme is helping the society for prevention. The massive escalation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and AIDS cannot be stopped by a single dimensional approach. In Bangladesh we are still protected by the observance of religious practices and adherence to social values. These are also fast diminishing. We should work hard to put emphasis on these aspects.
Creating awareness about AIDS among the grassroots people was possible through massive publicity. This can be the main tool against the deadly disease because no medicine to eradicate it has so far been developed.
The HIV epidemic has infected some 70 million people since it began two decades ago. Some 42 million are living with HIV and AIDS and more than 25 million have died. An estimated five million people were infected with HIV in 2002, including 3.5million in sub-Sharan Africa alone.
Bangladesh is in good position in this regard. The number of HIV/AIDS infected people is still not alarming here. Ours is a low prevalent state. Yet we cannot be complacent. People from AIDS infected countries including India and Myanmar (Burma) visit Bangladesh. They may spread the disease through sexual contacts and other means.
We have the means to prevent young adults from becoming infected. We have the means to treat those who are infected. We have the means to provide care and support.
Saleha Chowdhury
Shyamali, Dhaka

Climate change

Climate scientists have very rightly observed “we are in the jaws of the crocodile because of the impending climate change.” Speaking at an open discussion in the city marking the World Environment Day, they also underlined the need take appropriate steps to face the adverse impacts of rising temperature and sea-label and other climatic changes.
The temperature would rise with fluctuation in the rainfall; its timing and duration, frequency and intensity of both floods and droughts would also increase. The need of the hour is formulation of new policies for mitigation, vulnerability reduction and adaptation. We should go for an integrated policy and sectoral implementation.
But the most important point here is that climate change cannot be averted by the efforts of any single country. It is a global issue and every nation should act to stop it. But the problem is that the leading industrialized countries decline to commit to cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emission is the main cause of climate change. Take the USA. It said at the G-8 summit in Germany on Friday that the country would not agree to a deal on slashing emissions. The emission of greenhouse gas by one single country is quite enough to cause global warming. The effect is disastrous for the whole world. The ice of the Himalayas and the poles has begun to melt down increasing the sea level. A big part of Bangladesh is likely to be submerged in next few years. Thousands of people, animals and the biodiversity of the region seem set to be destroyed. The others may also not get pure air to inhale. Before that the country will be slashed by cyclones, tornadoes and storms. This will be a horrible situation. Every nation of the world should understand the situation and take all possible steps to stop the climate change.
Abanti Raihan
Fuller Road, Dhaka