Bangladesh

The Problem

Bangladesh is one of the world's most densely populated countries, with a population of over 150 million crammed between a delta of frequently flooding rivers.  Whilst HIV/AIDS is not yet one of the country's most pressing health priorities - it is still classified as a low prevalence country - infections have been steadily increasing year on year.  Growing HIV/AIDS rates amongst injecting drug users and high levels of cross border migration could signal that the country is on the brink of a much larger HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Despite early initiation of national coordination mechanisms, the Bangladeshi government and its health infrastructure remains ill-equipped to respond to HIV/AIDS.  There is still little treatment and care provision in the majority of the country with no government treatment programme, no prevention of mother to child HIV transmission coverage and no paediatric treatment available.  Less than 200 people were receiving antiretroviral treatment at the end of 2007, just 7% of the estimated need.

Our Response

Bangladesh is the only low prevalence country in which EJAF works.  Our work has, to date, mostly focused on small grants to local community based organisations supporting those living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS.  Our funding has also helped to increase the profile of organisations of men who have sex with men (MSM) in this traditionally conservative country, resulting in the inclusion of this group in the National AIDS Strategic Plan.  One of these organisations, Bandhu Social Welfare Society, has been used as an example of best practice for MSM programming in Asia by UNAIDS.

EJAF is now looking to scale up its support for quality HIV/AIDS programmes in Bangladesh. To learn more about our current funding priorities and application procedure for Bangladesh please click on the 'Grant Strategy' link to the left of this page.