December 16, Baitadi
People living with HIV are deprived of medical tests and ART services as they do not have an access to the health services. From among the 210 HIV affected people in the district most of them haven't been able take medical services regularly. From among the 210 patients only 107 people have been taking ART services in the district.
According to Bhuwan Bhatta, information officer at Health Office in Baitadi people living with HIV haven't been able to open themselves up as they fear social stigma and discrimination.
The perspective towards people living with HIV and AIDS haven't changed as per Bhatta.
Regular intake of medicines and health check up will help ease HIV affected people. The health practitioners say that the HIV affected ones too can live a normal life if they consume medicines on a regular basis and maintain their diet.
According to National Centre for AIDS and STD Control, estimated numbers of people living with HIV in Nepal is 31,020. Most of those suffering from HIV/AIDS are people who inject drugs, sex workers and their clients, men who have sex with men and transgender people, male labour migrants and their wives and prison inmates.
 

Hamro Doctor