'One in 3 Asians has no access to safe water'

Quoting a statistics, he said most tragic scenario is that children bear the burnt of the health consequences resulting from the deprivation of safe drinking water and children under five are the worst victims.

The health minister underscored the need for united efforts of the countries situated in the Asia-Pacific rim to strengthen the public health infrastructure to detect, respond and prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases.

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The two-day conference on 'Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Pacific Rim' is being held under the sponsorship of the US-Japan Cooperative Medical Science Programme. The government in association with the ICDDRB is hosting the conference.

Chaired by Health Secretary AFM Sarwer Kamal, the inaugural session was also addressed by US Ambassador in Dhaka Harry K Thomas, Japanese Ambassador Matsushiro Horiguchi, and Chairperson Prof Dr Yoshifumi Takeda and Programme Director Dr John R La Montagner of the US-Japan Cooperative Medical Science Programme

Harry K Thomas said HIV/AIDS and cholera not only affect the individual but also the society as a whole.

He said although HIV prevalence is still under one percent in majority countries of the region, there are warning signs that several countries are under the threat of serious outbreak.

The spread of the epidemic could be slowed down only by applying scientific knowledge developed by the researchers at the grassroots level, he added.

Matsushiro Horiguchi said effective cooperation among medical experts is essential for the success of global fight against infectious diseases.

Scientific sessions with special emphasis on cholera and HIV/AIDS will be held during the conference, organisers said.

At the end of the conference, the working groups comprising experts from the USA, Japan and other regions will make recommendations on prevention strategies regarding two infectious diseases.