In 2008, 4.7 million people in Asia were living with HIV, with 350, 000 new infections. It is predicted that the Asian epidemic is entering a second growth phase, and prevalence could reach almost 20 million by 2020.

UNAIDS currently estimates there are approximately 12, 000 people currently living with HIV in Bangladesh.

Although HIV prevalence in Bangladesh has remained low overall (<1 %), the country remains at high-risk for an epidemic, constantly juggling competing issues of health, development and human rights amongst its most-at-risk populations, including injecting drug users, men who have sex with men, sex workers and transgender populations.

With Bangladesh’s HIV/AIDS prevalence increasing, the country is reaching a crucial stage where management of infection rates is dependent on comprehensive and coordinated national response. 

Bangladesh’s HIV programmes are working to prevent the maximum number of new HIV infections, focusing interventions on population groups that are most-at-risk of infection. This includes measures such as needle and syringe exchange programmes, condom distribution, education and awareness campaigns amongst most at risk populations, as well as provision of treatment, care and support programmes for those already infected.

For more information on Bangladesh HIV/AIDS data, and recent UNGASS reporting visit the country link on the global site here:

http://www.unaids.org/en/CountryResponses/Countries/bangladesh.asp