HIV/AIDS a major threat to Nepal: Experts

December 2, 2005
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By Neetu Dubey

As the International AIDS Day was observed throughout the world on December 1, experts have warned that it has emerged as a major development challenge to Nepal.

Studies show that the incidence of HIV/AIDS has been reported mostly among people between 15-49 age group (the most productive age group). Migration and cross-border trafficking of women, poverty, gender inequality, illiteracy and discrimination are the major factors for fast spread of HIV in Nepal.

According to a report published by the National Center for AIDS and STD Control (NCASC), 230 people have died due to AIDS in the country till November 2004, nearly 4,500 persons have been tested HIV positive and 842 of them were found to have full-blown AIDS.

UN agencies and independent organisations, however, estimate that the number of people living with HIV virus by the end of this year would reach 65,000.

Talking to Nepalnews, Dr Hari Nath Acharya, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health said, “Various statistical data show the number of HIV-infected people is increasing in Nepal. We cannot ignore the fact that the actual figure of the infected people could be much higher since people hesitate to make their situation public due to shame and stigma attached to it.”

“Most vulnerable groups to HIV transmission are sex workers, drug users, truck drivers and migrant people,” he said.

“There is now less chance of transmission of the disease through blood transformation because blood is tested before donating it to patient,” added Acharya.

Regarding government initiation in the prevention of HIV/AIDS in the country he said, “We have been doing various awareness programs related to HIV transmission. In addition, government provides anti-retroviral to the infected free of cost.”

When asked why the government had failed to expand anti-retroviral service to people living with HIV, he said, “We got budget for anti retroviral medicines from the Global Fund and in near future enough medicine will be imported”.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has set a global target to reduce the trend of increasing HIV/AIDS pandemic in 15 years. Acharya said in the context of Nepal, various government and non government organizations jointly or individually were conducting awareness programs to achieve the goal. “So, we can say that the spreading of the disease will be controlled in the future”

HIV/AIDS has become a global threat and the attention of the whole world is drawn towards the prevention of the spreading of the epidemic. The vulnerable population in Nepal includes sex workers, migrants, and drug users, particularly those using syringes. But even housewives are being discovered to be sero-positive just because women cannot negotiate safe sex or refuse unwanted intercourse. The spreading of disease also increases in the country like Nepal due the culture of shame and stigma as people ——-afraid to declare that they are HIV positive.

Experts say the issue of HIV/AIDS needs to be dealt with by adopting a multi-disciplinary approach rather than looking it as a public health problem only. The first HIV- infected person was detected in Nepal in the year 1988. Over the last 17 years, the number of HIV-infected population has reached over 60,000.

As the International AIDS Day came to and end on December 1, the question that is looming large is, “Could Nepal be able to keep its promise?”