'Raise awareness among youths to prevent HIV/Aids'

They said the country is more vulnerable to the deadly disease because of the neighbouring countries where the prevalence of HIV infection is much higher.

They also called on the people of all strata to come forward to combat the transmission of the infection.

Padakhep Manabik Unnayan Kendra organised the workshop on 'Advocacy and sensitisation of the religious and community leaders, parents and policy makers on HIV/Aids' at the Cirdap auditorium in the city, with Md Aminul Islam Bhuiyan, additional secretary of the health ministry, as chief guest.

The workshop was addressed by Dr Md Abdus Selim, programme manager of STD/Aids programme, Edward Olney, country representative of Save The Children, USA, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Dr ASM Matiur Rahman and Executive Director of Padakhep Iqbal Ahamad.

Dr Abdus Selim emphasised the role of media in checking the spread of HIV/Aids, pointing out that 87 percent of adolescents has become aware of Aids pandemic through electronic and print media.

Iqbal Ahamad called on the NGOs working at the grassroots level to be more active to combat the disease.

Representatives from 36 NGOs and officials of government and private organisations took part in the workshop.