Bangladesh: UNODC fosters awareness and strengthens capacities of service providers on HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for people who use stimulant drugs

Dhaka, Bangladesh/16 November 2023: As in many nations, drug use remains a persistent challenge for Bangladesh. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimated in 2018 that the country has approximately 3.6 million drug users, a figure that might have surged since then. Beyond the immediate socio-economic implications, drug users and their partners face heightened vulnerability to communicable diseases, including HIV, tuberculosis (TB), sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and hepatitis. Unsafe sexual behaviors and drug consumption practices amplify this risk, with those resorting to injecting drugs being even more susceptible.

The national HIV prevention program primarily targets those who inject drugs. However, a recent study by ICDDR’B has shed light on the prevalent chemsex practice among the gender-diverse population in the intervention areas. This discovery emphasizes that stimulant drug users, a significant demographic, are equally susceptible to the spread of communicable diseases, raising public health concerns for Bangladesh.

In response to the escalating challenge at the intersection of drug use and HIV/AIDS, UNODC has been actively involved in implementing the Drugs and HIV/AIDS project in Bangladesh since 2020. This initiative is dedicated to enhancing the capacities of counterparts, stakeholders, and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in the fight against the dual threat of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS.

In continuum of these efforts, 40 officials from government, civil society and community-based organisations were trained on addressing HIV/AIDS among stimulant drug users and at-risk populations in Dhaka. The three-day training raised awareness while also equipping participants with foundational knowledge on working with stimulant drug users.

Emphasizing a harm reduction approach, the training facilitated exchange of insights and good practices to help practitioners develop interventions for the prevention of communicable diseases. Participants provided valuable recommendations to UNODC, paving the way for the development of a pilot intervention tailored to the unique challenges faced by stimulant drug users in Bangladesh.

Dr. Shah Mohammad Jashim Uddin, Director of the National AIDS/STD Programme, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Mr. Marco Teixeira, UNODC South Asia Representative welcomed this capacity building initiative.

By strengthening capacities, fostering awareness, and developing targeted interventions, UNODC continues to play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of drug abuse on public health and well-being in South Asia.

This activity contributed to SDG 5, SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/

(Funded by UBRAF Mechanism)