HIV prevention programme to be extended

Since 2001, the government, supported by the World Bank (WB) and the UK's Department of International Development (DFID), has been implementing the programme, which was scheduled to end in December this year, the WB sources said yesterday.

During the extended period, the sources said, HAPP would particularly focus on expansion of interventions of high-risk groups, including injected drug users (IDU), with a more focused approach for the safe blood transfusion component.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

"The extended HAPP would also strengthen the leadership and management capacity of the government staff leading the project, the sources said.

A recent WB and DFID review of the project said considerable progress was recorded and some areas were identified for future action, including the need to provide uninterrupted services in the field and strengthen management, the WB sources said.

The source also underscored the need for the development of a coherent, consolidated and detailed plan for awareness raising activities for the next two years based on the government's National Communication Strategy.

Another recent research has shown that HIV prevalence among the injected drug users in central Dhaka is continuing to grow. Among sex workers, another high-risk group, HIV prevalence remains low at below one per cent, the sources said.