I/DU Situation and Response In Bangladesh National AIDS/STD Programme (NASP), DGHS/MOHFW Dr. SM Mustafa Anower Director, CME and Line Director National AIDS/STD Programme & SBTP

Bangladesh Area: 1,47,570 sq. km Population: 140 million Population Density: 948/sq. km Urban Population: 25% Youth Population: 33 million Primary school enrolment: 84% Total fertility rate: 3 Life expectancy: 67 Yrs (approx.)

HIV IN male IDU from central-a over the rounds

Official estimates of opiate users & sources Injection drug users low range Injection drug users high range Ref: NASP w orking group on size estimation of HIV/AIDS infection in Bangladesh, March 22, 2004; final estimate recommended by the same group in Nov 28, 2004.

Coverage among IDUs 40% IDUs of lowest estimate 20% IDUs of highest estimate

Opportunities to scale up To increase coverage by scaling up IDU intervention To introduce Oral Drug Substitution Therapy

Challenges Harm Reduction program and Oral Substitution Therapy are yet to be legalized. It requires involvement of multiple departments and ministries. Uninterrupted resource allocation in right program is often difficult.

Next Steps/Follow-up action What?When?Where?Who? Scaling of IDU intervention By Dec 2007 Country wide NASP, Implementing agencies (IA). Oral substitution for IDU By Dec 2007 In Central Dhaka MoHFW(NAS P, DDA), IA, MoHA(DNC)

Thank You