Nepal On Track To Meet HIV/AIDS Target, MDGs, Minister Says

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 10 Jul 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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Nepal is on track to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by 2015 -- including targets related to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care -- Minister for Health and Population Giriraj Mani Pokharel said recently, Xinhua News Agency reports.

Pokharel was speaking at the Third National AIDS Conference, themed "Towards Universal Access." Pokharel said that the government should ensure no-cost HIV/AIDS treatment and that it is reviewing plans to create a program based on the needs of HIV-positive people in the country. Pokharel also said the cooperation of donors is important to achieving goals in the health sector. "We will not be able to achieve the goals separating our forces into different groups and sectors, hence we should work together to strive for success."

According to Padam Bahadur Chand, director of the National Centre for AIDS and STD Control, about 42% of the recorded HIV/AIDS cases in Nepal occur among migrant workers, and 21% occur among married women. Chand added that 270,000 people have undergone HIV testing and that 1,782 HIV-positive people have been taking antiretroviral drugs. According to Pokharel, HIV/AIDS has been on the rise among children (Xinhua News Agency, 7/5).

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