Bangladesh has invited the world community to the regional AIDS conference the country will host in 2015.
Secretary for health MN Neaz Uddin made a formal announcement on the country's behalf in a press conference at the ongoing 11th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) in Thai capital Bangkok.
He is leading a large Bangladeshi delegation that is also carrying on a publicity campaign, handing out information and promotional materials to woo participants to ICAAP's 12th episode in Dhaka.
“I welcome you all to Bangladesh in 2015 so that we can extend our warm hospitality,” the Secretary said. “We are ready.”
ICAAP is the largest regional forum in the world and second largest global AIDS meet since 1995. It draws between 3,000 and 5,000 participants from across the world, but mostly from Asia and the Pacific region.
The Dhaka meet will be the first global AIDS conference after the 2015 September UN General Assembly in which the post-2015 development agenda will be passed.
UNAIDS Country Coordinator in Bangladesh Leo Kenny has termed ICAAP a ‘lighthouse’ between now and 2015, saying it would bring countries and communities together “to think very careful what HIV/AIDS mean over the next decade”.
“It's (next ICAAP) is so critical,” he said, reminding that HIV/AIDS has remained ‘an unfinished business’.
But there was a strain of scepticism about the prospect of the next ICAAP. One delegate debated the need for a bi-annual meeting when a world conference was held each year.
Population scientist Prof Nurun Nabi, also vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University in northern Rangpur, said ICAAP played a critical role in the region.
“Asia-Pacific is the largest region in the world and the most seriously affected by HIV, and that it is also easily neglected when we put our problems into the same pot with other continents”.
The health Secretary promised the global press that Bangladesh “with all of our partners will try its best to make the ICAAP 12 the most successful event”.
He cited some of the reasons behind Bangladesh's interest in hosting the mega gathering.
“We are a low-prevalent country, but it is high in our bordering countries and the porous borders may cause infiltration of more cases.
“Our case detection rate is also low because of people’s shyness and over-confidence arising out of low prevalence,” he said and that the ICAAP in Dhaka would create much awareness with tremendous media campaign.
He felt “…that would definitely help us in more case detection and increasing coverage of HIV/AIDS care”.
Inter-governmental organisation Partners for Population and Development that promotes South-South cooperation will co-host the Dhaka ICAAP.
Its Executive Director Joe Thomas said the Bangladesh meeting would be on the theme of 'Be the change: towards an AIDS free generation'.
“It will highlight Bangladesh’s and the region’s ambition to achieve an AIDS free generation through science, innovation, community involvement with government leadership.”
He said they would involve civil society as well as HIV/STD and people living with HIV networks to make the gathering happen.
The Executive Director of the Ashar Alo Society that works with people living with HIV/AIDS, Habiba Akhter, said their peer groups work ‘actively’ with the government.
“We feel the need and we also know the need,” she said inviting global leaders, scientists, and activists to join the Dhaka meet.
