As the world marks the World HIV/AIDS Day today, HIV-infected people in Nepal have demanded that the government expand anti-retroviral services to all parts of the country where the AIDS menace is growing.

“Anti-retroviral services need to be expanded in other parts of the country so that hundreds of HIV-infected people could live a longer life,” says Basanta Chhetri, general secretary, National Association of People with HIV/AIDS. The government, Chhetri demands, must also give attention to the difficulties facing the HIV-infected people in places other than Kathmandu.

Currently, the Anti-retroviral services are available at Kathmandu’s Teku Hospital only.

“We are HIV-infected people, not criminals,” grumbles Chhetri, adding, “We need cure and support from the society as well.”

Activists carrying stained pictures of leaders of three rich nations accusing them of not fulfilling their commitments to provide support to the people living with HIV/AIDS in poor countries, Thursday, Dec 01 2005. nepalnews.com/rh

According to Dr. Shyam Mishra, director of the National Centre for AIDS & STDs Control, HIV/AIDS is not a disease rather it is just a state in which the immune system of the human body becomes weak. Immune power, he explains, can be enhanced by confidence.

In the meantime, HIV-infected people have numerous stories of discrimination and even mistreatment in their families and the society. “My landlord forced me out of my room the day he came to know that I have AIDS,” Rosy Shakya, a HIV victim who chairs the Sahara Plus, an anti-AIDS awareness campaign, complains.

Rosy and Basanta are among those 62,000-plus people who have contracted the HIV virus—and most of them share similar woes. Of them, many live with the virus without even knowing its presence.

Studies show that HIV/AIDS is seen in people between 15-49 years while the number of kids contracting the virus remains unaccounted for. Among those infected, 273 have died. A study reveals that an average of 30 people contract HIV every day and experts have projected that the annual AIDS toll will reach 1500 within a few years if drastic preventive measures are not adopted.

Drug users, especially those using syringes, are most vulnerable to HIV infection. According to the National Centre for AIDS & STD Control, 5564 people have been identified as AIDS victims in Nepal but it is estimated that 60,000 people are believed to have HIV positive. Most of the victims tend to conceal the infection for fear of society social stigma.

The 18th World AIDS Day is being celebrated across the world with the slogan “Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise”. The slogan itself aims to focus on keeping commitments to stop AIDS at all levels: personal, community, organizational and governmental.

Meanwhile, if what Minister of State for Health, Niksha Shumsher Rana, claims is any proof, the government is doing what it can to control the ever-growing threat of HIV/AIDS in the country.

“The government is devising plans in order to provide better services to the target group. We are trying to reach out to most of the places in the country but people are not open when it comes to discussing or doing something about HIV/AIDS,” he said at a program organised by the Centre in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Dr. Mishra speaking at a program outlined the major plans and policies of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy 2000-2006, which focuses on multi-sector engagement, broad political commitment, civil society involvement, stigma reduction, prevention-to-care continuum and human rights based approaches to contain the spread of HIV.

He said the government has a policy to provide special attention to groups that are most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, ensuring support and proper treatment to them. Surveillance and research on HIV are other priority areas, according to him.

The government is going to establish a databank and a hotline centre to maintain the data of HIV victims and provide them necessary advice, Dr. Mishra informed, adding that it has devised a multi-sector approach involving different ministries and departments to contribute in the drive against HIV/AIDS and other STDs. He also said the Anti-retroviral services are being expanded to other parts of the country as well.