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Mobilisation of public to contain AIDS mooted
KATHMANDU, NOV 24 - Concerned people today said the best way to contain HIV/AIDS, which for the last fifteen years has been increasing at an alarming rate, was to mobilise the civil society.
"We have failed to respond to the HIV/AIDS problem all this while. Since we have ample resources, now civil society should respond to this problem," said Rajiv Kafle, co-ordinator of Nawa Jiwan Plus, which works for the HIV/AIDS infected.
Data show that the number of HIV/AIDS infected people has reached 60 thousand in 15 years, with the first case of HIV/ AIDS in Nepal being detected in 1988.
Stressing the significance of Harm Reduction Project in regulating the spread of HIV/AIDS, Dr.Ram Prasad Shrestha, Director at the National Centre for AIDS and STD control, said talks for continuing the project was going on with the concerned bodies. He further said the harm reduction programme should go simultaneously with demand reduction and supply reduction of drugs. "Only then we will be able to meet the objective of the programme."
The Harm Reduction Project comes to an end this December.
Meanwhile, heads of the local bodies pledged their support in mobilising civil society for the Harm Reduction Programme.
Speaking at the Capital Advocacy Workshop on HIV/AIDS Harm Reduction, Chief of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality Madan Krishna
Shrestha, said, " We are ready to mobilise civil society for this cause."
Similarly, Mayor of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Keshav Sthapit, said the problem of HIV/AIDS could be controlled with the active participation of the youth in society.
Likewise, Rishi Raj Ojha, chairman of the Nepal Harm Reduction Council and Director, Youth Power Nepal, said since existing law was not sufficient for the effective implementation of harm reduction programme, suitable law should be framed.
Programme manager, Harm Reduction Programme, Save the Children US, said the programme has till now met its objectives.
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