ICC / UNAIDS partnership extended to Bangladesh

International Cricket Council President Ehsan Mani and Chief Executive Malcolm Speed today attended discussions at centres for sex workers and drugs users in Dhaka, Bangladesh as part of the ICC's partnership with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

Mr Mani and Mr Speed's visit began at a project managed by CARE Bangladesh where they were given a presentation on the organisation's HIV/AIDS Program by Acting Program Coordinator Dr Najmul Hussein.

This was followed by a discussion with transgender and sex workers who use the Chankharpool drop-in centre in central Dhaka. The centre provides the transgender and sex workers with peer education and health education - including advice on the risks of unprotected sex - and weekly medical services.

Mr Mani and Mr Speed then moved on to the nearby Nazimuddin Road drop-in centre where they conducted an informal question and answer session with current and ex-drug users.

"Cricket is extremely popular in Bangladesh and I hope that a partnership between the sport and UNAIDS will help raise awareness of this issue in the country," said Mr Mani.

"The threat of HIV/AIDS in many of the countries in which cricket is played is acute and it is in keeping with the spirit of cricket that the ICC exercises this social responsibility."

The visits were arranged by UNAIDS Country Coordinator Eravisto Marowa who was also present at the discussions along with UNICEF's Naseem-ur-Rehman and Dr Chowdhury S B Jalal from the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

The joint ICC / UNAIDS initiative was launched in Mumbai in September 2003 and subsequent awareness-raising activities have taken place in Sri Lanka and West Indies.

The partnership's primary aim is to use cricket to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in the cricket playing world. Other objectives are to incorporate UNAIDS education and training messages and materials into the ICC's own Global Development Program and encourage national cricket boards to support HIV/AIDS issues.

Of the estimated 42 million people living with HIV/ AIDS worldwide, over 12 million live in the 10 ICC Full Member countries. In India and South Africa alone over nine million people are living with HIV and AIDS.

Despite the current low HIV prevalence in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the potential for HIV to spread is high if prevention efforts are not scaled up rapidly. In Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, current trends indicate a rise in sexually transmitted infections and unsafe sex is increasing the risk of HIV. In the West Indies, HIV is spreading rapidly.

All 10 ICC Full Member boards have now appointed a UNAIDS coordinator and further initiatives are planned.

At the beginning of December the ICC will be auctioning a full set of 14 ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 bats signed by squad members of all participating teams at cricket's premier event.

Proceeds from the auction will go to a UNAIDS facility in India and further details can be obtained from visiting https://members.ebay.co.uk/aboutme/cricketaids or contact hilary.marshall@icc-cricket.com.

ICC Media Contact:

UNAIDS Contact:

Evaristo Marowa
Tel: +880 2 8124051

CARE Bangladesh Contact:
Dr Najmul Hussein
Tel: +880 2 8114311 Ext 104