Read the meeting report in PDF
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) jointly organized the Advocacy workshop with officials under different ministries to support policies and programs on HIV and AIDS. The workshop held on 18 December 2014 at 10:00 am to 12.00 am at the Conference Room, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Headquarter with the support of Save the Children in Bangladesh under Global Fund funded RCC phase-II program. The meeting chaired by Ms. Mily Biswas, ppm, Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic), Dhaka Metropolitan Police & Country Focal Point, LEAHN. With the permission of the chair Md. Firoz Al Mozahid Khan Additional DIG (Training & Sports), Bangladesh Police Headquarter, Dhaka,moderated the workshop. He welcomed all participants’ and requested for self-introduction. All senior level Dhaka Metropolitan Police officers and others branches of defense such: CID, PBI, SB, DB, APBN, Ansars, Senior level officers, national and international agencies representative were also presented in the workshop as participants. Shaikh Masudul Alam, Deputy Director, HIV Sector, Save the Children in Bangladesh, shared the objective and importance of the advocacy meeting.
After sharing objective Dr. Mahabuba Begum, DeputyProgram Manager, National AIDS/STD Programme presented the overview of the HIV National response of Bangladesh. Mr. Shaikh Masudul Alam, Deputy Director, HIV Program of Save the Children Presented the Global Fund funded HIV Program Progress. Dr. Mausumi Amin Sr. Project Manager, Female Sex Workers’ intervention, HIV/AIDS Sector, Save the Children in Bangladesh conducted the key presentation on HIV & AIDS responses; enabling environment for smooth implementation of HIV/AIDS Program.
After all presentation in open discussion, all the participants discussed and made recommendations that follow:
• All regional scenario of HIV/AIDS and other risk HIV vulnerable countries to understand the magnitudes of the pandemic
• A concept/specific support note for law and enforcing agencies for this issue are requested to submit for future reference • Need to organize workshop on HIV/AIDS for field level Police officers.
• All types of drug users should be included in the intervention as they might switch to injecting during crisis period. They also recommended to include general health especially nutrition support services in the existing program intervention.
• This type of workshop and meeting to be conducted routinely with the inclusion of all law and enforcing agencies to mitigate the knowledge gap as well as field level coordination.
• Participants shared practical experiences for execution of existing law/policy at field level. They also acknowledged the ambiguity of execution of current laws and current practice by law enforcing agencies. However, the implication and future scope for common understanding shared by respective participants.
After the open discussion the chair of the meeting Ms. Mily Biswas ppm, Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic), Dhaka Metropolitan Police & Country Focal Point, LEAHN appreciated the open discussion. She said that DMP has already been working on HIV/AIDS issue since last two years with UNAIDS. She said this meeting is very important for all officers who are present in the workshop because as integral part of the law and enforcing agencies they should play a vital role and maintain the support for program implementation.She also requested all attendees to share the information to their specific units/departments.
Decision:
• DMP will arrange capacity building workshop on HIV/AIDS.
• DMP will support for better program implementation for vulnerable people Female Sex workers and Injecting Drug Users on HIV/AIDS.
• DMP can integrate HIV prevention information with the ongoing training program/ workshop.
• Provide support for HIV related intervention activities in Dhaka city.
The chair thanked all participants for joining the workshop and providing their opinion, comments and suggestions. She also thanked Dhaka Ahsania Mission and Save the Children in Bangladesh for organizing the advocacy workshop. Chair said that DMP will work and support for this issue in future. Then the workshop was ended with vote of thanks.
Ms. Mily Biswas ppm
Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic)
Dhaka Metropolitan Police & Country Focal Point, LEAHN
