5 of 5

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

and behavioral patterns that fuel the endemic. Poverty associated with gender discrimination and stigma contributes to swelling the onslaught of HIV/AIDS as a whole. In many countries with high HIV/AIDS prevalence rates, the available evidence indicates that gender-based disparities sustain the impact of HIV/AIDS robustly.

Gender discrimination has magnified the AIDS endemic into an economic and social calamity, mostly in greater Africa. For instance, by now 57 per cent of all HIV-positive adults are women, and 75 per cent of young people living with HIV are women and girls in Sub-Saharan Africa. If gender development is ensured through life skill development, the vulnerable people, especially women, will be empowered financially and socially. They will not be compelled by hunger and poverty to be engaged in risky behaviors.

According to a survey conducted in Central Asia, one third of young women had not still heard of HIV/AIDS yet globally the rate of infection among women is mounting inexorably. In the light of the recent study conducted by Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallayan Foundation, inclusive initiatives have to be taken on the urgent basis in Bangladesh to empower women and enhance their abilities to withstand health threats like HIV/AIDS. Catering to the vulnerable groups especially the destitute and disadvantaged women, there is a need for generating different pilot interventions and educational effort in response to campaign of AIDS prevention.

Strategies and interventions should tune in to sensitizing policy makers, senior health planners, program managers and other implementers to create a willing and friendly environment for achieving equality in every sector. There is no doubt that gender equality is the key way to sustainable development. So it is necessary to ensure that both women and men have to have equal access to information, treatment, care, support and productive resources. Then in true sense, gender development will be meaningful all along in preventing HIV/AIDS.

Anirudha Alam
AIDS Researcher
BCC Network
House 13, Road 10
Block C, Section 6
Mirpur, Pallabi
Dhaka 1216
Bangladesh.
Website: http://bcc.network.blogspot.co m, http://anirudha-alam.blogspot. com/
Phone: 8801718342876, 88028050514
E-mail: bcc.network@gmail.com,
anirudha .alam@gmail.com

Ref: UNAIDS, World Bank, Amnesty International, UNESCO

Learn more about this author, Anirudha Alam.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

Know something about What we have ahead of us in the fight against HIV and AIDS?
We want to hear your view. Write now!