37th World AIDS Day: Infected ones say regular medication enables them to live an active, longer life

By Bunu Tharu, Kathmandu, Dec 1: Khagendra Khadka saw darkness all around him when he found out he was infected with HIV/AIDS some 26 years.     

On one hand, he was fearing societal shame while on the other hand an overwhelming fear of death constantly hounded him.     

He was contracted with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) resulting in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) while doing drugs some 26 years ago, he confided.     

Recalling his five years of struggle to do away with the drug addiction after the initial diagnosis, finally in 2063 BS, he was free from the addiction of narcotics with the help of a rehabilitation centre.     

Since then, he has been advocating for the rights and welfare of the infected ones and has been counseling them through his involvement in various social organizations.     

Khadka has a lot of painful stories of stigmatization and discrimination due to being a HIV infected individual. One of harrowing tales, he shared, was being ill-treated by the healthcare providers.     

The troubling incident dates back to 23 years when he fractured one of his hands and was rushed to the hospital. After the medical report showed his infection, he recollected that healthcare providers sent him away merely applying bandage on his fracture hand instead of putting a plaster.     

As a result, one of his hands is still not in a good condition. He, however, observed a significant shift in the attitude and treatment towards the people living with the HIV/AIDS then and now. .     

He noted, "The time I was diagnosed with the HIV/AIDS is starkly different from now. In the recent times, people living with HIV/AIDS might be facing stigma but it is far less intense than it was in my time."     

According to him, people living with the HIV/AIDS could live an active life through regular medication, a healthy lifestyle and proper nutritious diet.     

Reflecting on his contributions to aware and educate his family and society to stay safe from HIV/AIDS, he suggests that everyone should behave safe. "I have a wife and two kids. None of them are infected with HIV/AIDS," he mentioned.     

Khadka, who is also the President of the National Association of People Living with HIV/ AIDS in Nepal, admitted that positive thinking is a driving force for people living with HIV/AIDS.     

His organization is working to improve the lives of the people living with HIV/AIDS besides high-risk communities through testing and save them from further infection.     

Similarly, Yashoda Timilsina has been advocating for the infected ones like herself and has been providing counseling to other infected ones since was confirmed of this infection.     

The 26-year old young lady suggested, "Earlier HIV/AIDS was considered fatal. That is not the case now. There is no need to fear and panic after being diagnosed with it because there are medicines which enable infected ones to live longer."     

As per the statistic of the National AIDS and STI Control Centre, 30,300 people across the country are estimated to have been infected with the HIV/AIDS as of the end of 2022 with 457 new infections reported in 2023.     

It is estimated that 221 people succumbed to HIV/Infection in 2023 itself. The high-risk communities identified in Nepal are narcotic drug abusers, sex workers, prisoners, male homosexuals and third genders and Nepali migrant workers abroad among others.     

For Nepal to meet the ambitious goal of ending the AIDS epidemic in Nepal by 2030, Nepal aims to achieve the ''95-95-95'' strategy by 2030. This means, at least 95 per cent infected ones should know about their HIV status, 95 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS have an access to medicines and among those on medication, at least 95 per cent should have low viral load in their bodies.     

The World AIDS Day is observed on December 1 every year across the globe including Nepal with various awareness programmes. The theme for this year, the 37th World AIDS Day, is- ''Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress''.(RSS)