On the occasion of the 37th World AIDS Day, an awareness walk was held at Kawasoti in Nawalparasi (Bardghat Sustapur) on the initiative of various organizations. Photo: Bishnu Prasad Gaudel/Rss
Kathmandu, 1st December: When Khagendra Khadka of Dharan found out that he was infected with HIV, the world felt dark. On the one hand, the fear of what the family and society will say, on the other hand, the fear of not living much longer. He was diagnosed with HIV 26 years ago while using drugs.
Even five years after the infection was confirmed, he could not be free from drugs. In the year 2007, he was freed from addiction with the help of a rehabilitation center. Since then, Khadka has been involved in various social organizations and has been providing advocacy and counseling for the benefit of the infected. People with HIV have many experiences of being discriminated against and stigmatized due to HIV infection.
Khadka’s hand was broken in an accident 23 years ago. When he reached the hospital for treatment, when he found out that he was infected in the report, the health workers sent him away with only a ‘bandage’ instead of a ‘plaster’. As a result, one of his hands is still not in good condition. Khadka says that there is a stark difference between the attitude towards HIV-infected people before and now. He says, “There is a difference between the time when I was diagnosed with the infection and now. They may be stigmatized in the society, but it is much less than before. According to him, people infected with HIV can live an active life with regular medication, healthy lifestyle and nutritious diet. He says, “I have alerted the family and society to stay safe from AIDS. Everyone should behave safely. I have a wife and two children. They are not infected with anyone.”
He, who is also the president of the National HIV and AIDS Federation of Nepal, said that positive thinking provides the energy to live life. The association is working to improve the lives of the infected, to identify at-risk communities through testing and to protect them from further risks.
26-year-old Yashoda Timilsina has been advocating and counseling many infected people like herself after being diagnosed with HIV. She suggested, “Earlier, this disease was considered fatal. There is no such situation now. There is no need to fear and panic as soon as the infection occurs because there are medicines available to help you live longer. “According to the latest statistics of the National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases Control Center, it is estimated that 30,300 people in Nepal have been infected with HIV by the end of 2023.
In 2023, it is estimated that there were 457 new HIV infections. It is estimated that 221 people died due to AIDS in 2023 alone. In Nepal, people at high risk of HIV infection are people who inject drugs, sex workers, prisoners in prisons, gay and transgender men, and those who go abroad for employment. Among these, injection drug users and male homosexual sex workers have higher infection rates than other risk groups.
In order to achieve the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic in Nepal by 2030, it is said that 95 percent of HIV-infected people will know their infection status, 95 percent of them will have access to drug treatment, and 95 percent of those taking those drugs should have a low viral load (viral load). World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1 every year. This year, the 37th AIDS Day is being celebrated with various public awareness programs under the slogan ‘Ensure everyone’s rights to end AIDS’.
