Introduction to a new e FORUM member

[Guest guest]

Dear Moderator,

Thanks for the welcoming message. Well first let me introduce myself to you and

the forum. My name is Musarrat Homaira and I am from Bangladesh. I am working

with an international organisation, names ActionAid which has its office in

India aswell. Bangladesh is presently considered as a high risk but low

prevalence area thinking from HIVAIDS context but we are fearing that the

outbreak of AIDS epidemic is possible any time. My organisation is also working

with HIVAIDS but we are mainly working at the advocacy level and more into

information dissemination.

I am personally very interested and highly motivated to work on the issue of

HIVAIDS . I think , the core problem of developing countries is " ignorance "

for which HIVAIDS is becoming a fatal threat for us. In Bangladesh, apart from

ignorance , religous beliefs and code of conduct is another strong threat for

which it is becoming very dificult to work directly with AIDS.

The very word AIDS is a taboo in our country and person infected by AIDS

is not at all viewed with respect or sympathy. According to a report, a man

having AIDS was initially outcaste from his village and later on kept in a

separate place to die. He was neither given food , nor water to drink

and people used all sorts of abusive words when they met him.

The level of ignorance is so high in our country that we don't even want

to face the reality. For instance, I read an article lately on STD where a

man revealed that he visits brothels regularly but doesn't use condoms cause

after returning from brothel he takes penicillin which he believes will

protect him from all type of STDs. Under this situation , I think it is very

difficult to work with such an agenda like HIV. Information are like windows

..Changes in peoples' attitude and behaviour level is the only way to fight

back HIVAIDS.

Still I believe, we should be sympathetic and affectionate to those who are

already

infected, cause 'a little love is the best solution in the world for

everything.'

Regards

(Ms) Musarrat Homaira

Program Officer

ActionAid Bangladesh.

E-mail: <musarrat@...>