World AIDS Day 2005
"Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise"
1st December

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In 2004 the national response to HIV and AIDS has been guided by Bangladesh's national policy on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infection-related issues that was endorsed by Cabinet in 1997 and the National Strategic Plan of 1997–2002.

Source: 2004 Report on the global AIDS epidemic

* No estimates have been made where sufficient data for the last six years was not available.

Additional country-by-country epidemiological information can be found in the UN Epidemiological Fact Sheets on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Country Situation Analysis

In Bangladesh one of the important developments during 2004 was the preparation of the next National Strategic Plan (NSP) for the period 2004–2010 through a participatory process. The National Strategic Plan was approved by the Technical AIDS Committee and plans to operationalize developed in early 2005. The Expanded Theme Group, a forum to facilitate and coordinate information-sharing among different stakeholders, held three meetings in 2004 mainly around the issues of the National Strategic Plan, Global Fund and the World Bank/United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) funded projects. In addition to the Expanded Theme Group meetings, there was an active communication and information-sharing mechanism among the different actors through emails and participation in different fora. However, there has been no participation of the private sector in the Expanded Theme Group.

Progress has been made in both Global Fund and HAPP HIV/AIDS Prevention Project funded by the World Bank and DFID (HAPP) projects and suitable nongovernmental organizations were identified to implement different targeted intervetions.

The UN is providing management and technical support for HAPP mainly through UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO for institutional capacity strengthening of National AIDS/STI Programme (NASP), targeted interventions for vulnerable groups, advocacy and communication and blood safety.

The Global Fund project is focusing on intereventions for youth. The AIDS/STI network comprising about 135 nongovernmental organizations is a mechanism through which coordination among these organizations is being promoted. Two peer groups of people living with HIV and AIDS have been operating mainly in Dhaka to provide needed support to their members. However, the issue of stigma around HIV and AIDS and empowerment of people living with HIV and AIDS needs concerted efforts especially through advocacy.

For the first time the State President and the Chief Patron of National AIDS Committee (NAC) inaugurated the World AIDS Day commemorations and affirmed government commitment to addressing HIV and AIDS.

The overall coordination of the national response requires strengthening so as to ensure effective multisectoral involvement.

UNAIDS Support to the National Response

Four UN Theme Group meetings were held in 2004 and these meetings were attended by most heads of agencies in Bangladesh. These meetings deliberated on issues that included support for the preparation of National Strategic Plan (NSP), UN-ISP, HAPP, UN learning strategy and the World AIDS Campaign. In addition to UN Theme Group meetings, the UN Theme Group Chair and the UNAIDS Country Coordinator had regular consultations and briefing meetings to plan and follow up on key issues. The UN Theme Group was supported by the Technical Working Group (TWG) consisting of focal points on HIV/AIDS from each UN agency. Under the chairmanship of UN Theme Group Chair, the Expanded Theme Group had three meetings in 2004.

Activities included:

• The UN Theme Group with technical assistance from the UNAIDS Secretariat supported the development of the National Strategic Plan. Also with support from the UNAIDS Secretariat the Theme Group prepared the draft UN-ISP that will be finalized early 2005.
• The UN Theme Group sponsored two HIV/AIDS focal points to attend facilitator's training on the UN HIV/AIDS Learning Strategy in Bangkok. Following this training the UN Theme Group organized a Knowledge Fair on HIV/AIDS for all UN staff in the country to observe World AIDS Day and formally launch the UN Learning Strategy that will be operationalized in 2005.
• In order to strengthen the UN country team capacity on leadership and advocacy including APLF, the UN Theme Group started the recruitment process of an Advocacy Adviser who will be funded through APLF.
• The UN Theme Group initiated discussion in an effort to facilitate coordination of development partners supporting nongovernmental organizations involved in HIV and AIDS work following which a database is being prepared.
• The UN Theme Group in coordination with UNAIDS/SHR initiated consultations for collaboration with the Armed Forces and a working group has been established and is in the process of finalizing a project to be submitted to UNAIDS/SHR for funding in early 2005.
• The UN Theme Group mobilized resources to support some participants to attend the International AIDS Conference held in Bangkok in July 2004.
• The UN Theme Group also facilitated the preparation of Bangladesh Country Profile on HIV and AIDS 2004.

source: http://www.unaids.org/

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