Homosexuals are getting more AIDS
AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The disease destroys the immune system of the human body. As a result, any disease easily overcomes the patient. According to the data received till 2022, the number of AIDS patients in the country is 14 thousand 513 people.
According to the Department of Health, 1 thousand 820 people died of AIDS till 2022. More than a hundred patients have died of AIDS this year. In 2022, 232 people died of AIDS in the country.
According to doctors, AIDS cannot be eradicated from the body of an infected patient. However, with regular medication and treatment, patients can live with AIDS for a long time. AIDS rates are higher among expatriates, homosexuals and intravenous drug users.
Two 25-bed wards for AIDS patients have been set up on the third floor of the Capital's Infectious Diseases Hospital. Where serious patients are treated. 15-year-old Saim (pseudonym) is undergoing treatment in ward number 1 of the 3rd floor. His mother and he are also receiving treatment in bed.
Saim said, father was diagnosed with AIDS for the first time. He was the ward master. My father was diagnosed with AIDS when I was 6 years old. Then my mother and I were also diagnosed with AIDS. Dad died within weeks of being diagnosed with AIDS. I have been undergoing treatment for 9 years. However, the hands and feet have been paralyzed for the past one year. Now I came to the hospital again for treatment.
21 year old Kulsoom (pseudonym). He came from Gopalganj. Both his parents are affected by AIDS. They live together with family members. Kulsoom is married to another AIDS sufferer. She is currently pregnant. So he was admitted to the hospital to take the doctor's advice.
He said that his father was first diagnosed with AIDS in 2006. Then my mother and I were tested. Then both were diagnosed with AIDS. My father lived in Dubai. This is where the disease came from. Father lived for another 8 years after being infected. Meanwhile, our treatment was going on. I have another sister. However, AIDS came negative in his case. That is why other family members have accepted that it is possible to give birth to an AIDS-free child despite having the disease.
He said that the government gives the medicine. But if you are sick, you have to do various tests. It costs a lot of money every time. I am not financially sound, it becomes difficult.
According to the data of the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, 1 thousand 27 people have been diagnosed with AIDS in the hospital so far. Among them, 120 people died. And 781 people are taking regular AIDS treatment ART.
From November 2022 to November 2023, 1 thousand 542 people have been newly tested for AIDS in the hospital. 154 of them have been diagnosed with AIDS. This is 49 people more than in 2022. In 2022, the number of AIDS patients was 105. 33 AIDS patients have died so far in 2023.
According to the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, 102 or 66 percent of the identified patients returned abroad this year. 22 percent are gay. 20 people or 13 percent tested positive. 6 percent are drug addicts and 6 percent are children. All of these pediatric patients were infected from their mothers during pregnancy.
According to the latest 2022 data from the Department of Health, the estimated number of HIV-infected people in the country is 14,513. Of these, 33 percent are still unaccounted for. 77 percent of those diagnosed are under treatment.
According to expert doctors, the number of AIDS patients in the country is low, but the risk of spreading among people is high. This is because many people look down on people with HIV because the infected person keeps the disease a secret. As a result, diseases spread easily. Besides, there is no full-fledged hospital for these patients in the country so far. Hospitals are not well equipped for treatment. Patients are taking treatment by concealing the disease. Many have to die of simple diseases.
National Infectious Diseases Hospital is the only hope for AIDS patients
AIDS patients can be admitted and treated only in the National Infectious Diseases Hospital in the country. According to the National AIDS/STD Control Department of Bangladesh, the country has 27 AIDS detection centers across the country. Medical services are provided from 11 centers. Which is limited to first aid only.
Dr. Senior Consultant (Medicine) of Infectious Disease Hospital of the capital. Ariful Bashar said that HIV patients with complicated conditions can be admitted to the only infectious diseases hospital in the country. There is no other hospital. This hospital also has many limitations. For example, AIDS patients are usually easily infected with other diseases. Among them, those suffering from kidney, heart disease and other complex diseases need other services including cardiac services. However, this hospital does not have those arrangements.
Dr. Ariful Bashar said, AIDS patients are treated with normal patients in other countries. But people in Bangladesh are very afraid of AIDS. Therefore, it is not possible to treat these patients with general patients in other hospitals.
From November 2022 to October this year, 1,542 people were tested for HIV at the hospital. 154 of them have been diagnosed with AIDS. That is, 9.98 percent of patients identified against the sample test. 33 people died at the same time.
Patients are increasing but there is no full-fledged hospital
Infectious Disease Hospital Junior Consultant (Medicine) Dr. Bikash Kumar Sarkar said, the HIV positive mother who is admitted here may require an operation theater after a few days for her cesarean. But we don't have that system here. When they go to another hospital, they don't want to take the patient. In many cases even doctors do not show interest. Don't want to see them.
He also said that many people come from different hospitals who need ICU. But we haven't started ICU yet. Brain infections and tuberculosis are very common in HIV-positive patients. But we don't have the system to test them. There is no provision for CT scan or MRI.
Young gay patients are more common
According to several doctors of the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, the number of AIDS patients is high among young homosexuals.
Emergency medical officer in charge of the hospital concerned ward (gynecology and obs) Dr. Hasiba Muntaha said that children who are HIV positive are born with the disease. And a group of young people are gay. Many of them have a history of childhood sexual abuse. When they come to us, they themselves are habitual homosexuals.
In Bangladesh, transgenders and sex workers have not been dealt with in the same way as homosexuals. Dr. said that we still have many deficiencies in this place. Hasiba Muntaha said, now getting to know each other through social media and various apps, looking for a partner. It involves socializing with complete strangers. Many are getting infected.
