KATHMANDU, JAN 11 - Drug users spend around 8 billion rupees on drugs annually, said Rishi Raj Ojha, chairman of the Nepal Harm Reduction Council and director of Youth Power Nepal.
"This shows there is also economic aspect to this problem," Ojha said adding, "Something should be done to put a check on the supply of narcotics."
There are estimated 70,000 drug users in the country and the Intravenous Drug Users are found to be vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.
Stating that the rate of HIV infection among housewives is 9 per cent, Dr. Ram Prasad Shrestha, director of National Centre for AIDS and STD Control, said, "The problem is heading towards becoming a household problem. We should immediately start working in this area."
Shreastha said if the rate of HIV infection went on increasing at the current ratio, there would be a danger of the spreading of the epidemic of HIV by 2005.
Estimates suggest the number of HIV positive in the country to be approximately 60,000 with 3,312 cases of HIV reported last year. Number of death-related to AIDS is estimated to be from a mere 300 to 5000.
"Advocacy is the major component in regulating the epidemic," Shrestha said speaking at the National Advocacy on HIV/AIDS Harm Reduction in the capital yesterday. According to Shrestha, 0.5 per cent of the adult population is HIV-infected.
Chairman of the Raj Parisad Standing Committee, Parshu Narayan Chaudhary, said the government was committed to put a check on HIV/AIDS. He also pointed out the need of skill and vocational training to the infected.
"Realising seriousness of the problem, the 10th plan has also given an outmost priority to the issue," he said.

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