Kathmandu: The Secretary General of SAARC, Mr. Q.A.M.A Rahim has said that even if HIV/AIDS epidemic were a recent phenomenon in South Asia yet the region has the largest number of people living with this menace in the world—more than 4.7 million.

He also revealed that while the region as a whole is in a low prevalence state at the moment, there are certain pockets where the infection has already reached an endemic level which naturally warranted concern of all the governments of the region.

Ambassador Rahim made these observations while making a statement at the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding in between the SAARC Secretariat with the UNAIDS in Kathmandu, Monday morning.

UNAIDS will now collaborate with the secretariat and place an focal person to support the development of the planned regional strategy and a plan of action.

Dr. Suman Mehta, the Associate Director, Asia Pacific and the Mid-East division Country and regional Support development, Geneva, who was specially sent here to sign the MoU with the SAARC, said on the occasion that AIDA amounted to a problem but having solutions as well. She said that the menace could be checked; it was possible to treat and prolong lives; it was possible to provide care and support and improve the quality of lives of those with HIV positive.

“The MoU that has been signed represented our joint commitment to collaborate on this matter with the national governments in the region”, Ms. Mehta opined.

The Geneva office of the HIV/AIDS-UNAIDS,in Nepal will be henceforth looked after by Ms. Jacquline Bryd-the program officer.

Ms. Mehta exhibited her deep interest in having a sort of intimate relation with the Federation of Nepalese Journalists and has advised the local focal person to initiate contacts with the FNJ.