Maybe this story can be shared with the students or findings summarised:

Therefore, it is important to educate them in such issues so that they can provide information and support when others are in need of knowledge regarding these issues. Discussions may take place in schools, community meetings, vocational trainings etc.

While it is important to discuss how to prevent these deadly diseases, one has to keep in mind that society should not condone someone for having HIV/AIDS or STDs. It is important to provide support and timely treatment to them and be sensitive towards their situation. HIV/AIDS patients if diagnosed and treated on time can live healthy normal lives.

A useful read to show how a person who has appropriate treatment can live a life in dignity.

Maybe this story can be shared with the students or findings summarised:

Life After HIV by Hana Shams Ahmed [Daily Star Cover Story, December 1, 2006] Habiba Akter, founder of Ashar Alo Society.

35-year-old Mahbub (not his real name) was diagnosed HIV positive while he was working in the Middle East and 17 years on he looks just as healthy as the next person. Many people might find that hard to comprehend, as the overriding notion is that a person diagnosed HIV positive is virtually sitting on his/her deathbed. Mahbub is perhaps the perfect example of the contrary. “I was devastated when I first learned that I was HIV positive,” says Mahbub. “At that time there was no information on this issue,” he continues, “I faced an immense amount of discrimination and stigmatisation from my family and from the society where I lived. But after I started getting counselled I came to realise that it wasn’t the end and that a person can lead a very normal life even being HIV positive.” “I think it’s very important for people not to lose hope and get educated. A PLHA (Person Living with HIV/AIDS) is just like any other person and has much to give to society and society should give him/her the due respect,” says Mahbub, “When I was first diagnosed the news spread very fast and I had to face the consequences one after the other. Since I still haven’t died my relatives think that I was diagnosed wrongly. I prefer to keep it that way, and not face any more problems in society.”

The secret to Mahbub’s good health is simply a balanced routine. “I follow a balanced nutritional diet, do some light exercises regularly and make sure I get proper sleep,” he says. Mahbub does not have any other complications. In fact the only medicine he’s taking constitutes regular vitamin supplements.

“It’s very important to go to an HIV/AIDS expert doctor from the very beginning. Any other doctor will give the wrong medication and will only make matters worse,” says Mahbub, “Counselling is most important. People who do regular follow ups at our organisation are doing quite well here.

HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh is still a sparsely talked about subject, thanks to overriding superstitions and myths that shroud it. Although the official figure for the number of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs) is 658 (government figure as of 2005), the projected number for PLHAs all over the country is more than 13,000. And with more and more people travelling to countries in the Middle East and South Asia, where most people bring the infection from, the risk increases manifold. While the government is spending a huge amount of money on raising awareness through different media, they are spending little in the way of care and support for the patients. What the government forgets is that PLHAs are a source of infection to other people and left