The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on Wednesday in New York launched an awareness and prevention kit aimed at halting the spread of the HIV and AIDS in Nepal.

The kit targets to control the spread of HID/AIDS particularly among the under 40-age group, which are the most at risk.

“Prevention is the only way to limit the spread of HIV and education is the foundation for developing the behaviours that can reduce risk and vulnerability: it can promote awareness; empower individuals to make free and informed decisions; and develop attitudes and competencies that reduce risky behaviour,” UNESCO said.

According to UNESCO, the HIV and AIDS situation here has been categorised as a ‘concentrated epidemic,’ which is spreading rapidly amongst its most-at-risk groups.

More than 70,250 people between the age of 15-49 are estimated to be living with the HIV virus, but the largest number of HIV positive cases in the last 18 months was reported among the age groups of 15-24 and 30-39 years.

The UNESCO office in Kathmandu has adapted an advocacy toolkit that was first developed in 2002 in Thailand, to the Nepali context in its effort towards HIV prevention here. The toolkits, to be supplied to the Ministry of Education and Sports soon, was pre-tested during a two-day workshop held in November and December last year.

The toolkit includes detail information on nature and transmission of HIV and AIDS, HIV prevalence in the world and Asia, the impact of the pandemic on educational systems, the need for preventive measures, life skills education and ways to facilitate it and information on international treaties and commitments relating to HIV/AIDS.