Remarkable stride made in HIV/AIDs control: Minister Basnet

Kathmandu, Dec 1: Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet stated that Nepal has made a remarkable stride in HIV/AIDS control.     

At a programme organized here today marking the 36th World AIDS Day, Minister Basnet viewed that the HIV/AIDS infection rate coming down by 77 per cent and the death rate due to AIDS decreasing by 80 per cent from 2010 to 2022 in the country was a great achievement.     

Stating that it was challenging to achieve Nepal's commitment to end the epidemic of AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, Minister Basnet said his Ministry was ready to coordinate efforts at the community level for eradication of HIV/AIDS.     

At the event organized by the National Centre for AIDS and STD Control, Dr RP Bichha, member of the National Planning Commission, underscored collaboration with all parties to bring about good changes in people's behavior towards HIV infected people.     

He opined that although Nepal had made stride in reducing the HIV/AIDS infection rate, challenges still loomed large for its eradication.     

Ministry's Secretary Dev Kumari Guragain argued that HIV/AIDS could be cured by taking infection like any other infection. She said that it was imperative to launch an awareness drive to end discriminatory behavior against the people living with HIV/AIDS.     

Centre's Director Dr Sanjay Thakur shared that there were around 30,000 infected ones in Nepal as of 2022. He pointed out the need for leadership of the community to face the challenge of eradicating HIV/AIDS. (RSS)