Kathmandu, Nov. 30
The prevalence rate of HIV-AIDS in Nepal
has come down to 0.13 per cent this year from 0.15 per cent in 2019.
According to the National Centre for AIDS
and STD Control (NCASC), the prevalence rate was 0.55 per cent a decade ago.
Currently, there are 29,503 AIDS-infected
people in Nepal, down from 31,020 in last year. The numbers of infected males
and females are 17,587 and 11,916 respectively, said Director of NCASC, Dr.
Sudha Devkota at an interaction organised in the Capital on the occasion of the
33rd World AIDS Day 2020.
Nepal has termed HIV-AIDS as a concentrated
epidemic, meaning transmission occurs primarily in vulnerable groups -- such as
sex workers, male homosexuals and people injecting drugs. The transmission rate
in the vulnerable group is about 5 per cent while in normal people it is only
one per cent.
Of the total AIDS-infected people in Nepal,
66 per cent are in ARV treatment. Likewise, in comparison of 2010, new
infection rate has gone down by 64 per cent, including a decrease by 85 per cent
among children.
Dr. Devkota said that the death caused by
AIDS has also decreased by 85 per cent in a decade.
About
77 per cent HIV was transmitted through sexual relations established without
condoms. In Nepal, about 8 per cent people use condoms regularly.
In
order to increase awareness about the right use of condoms, NCASC, National
Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAP+N) and AIDS Healthcare
Foundation (AHF) are organising HIV testing campaigns, free condom
distribution, making key populations and youths aware on safer sex practices
and condom use.
Dr.
Devkota said that the AIDS-infected people who are regularly taking medicines
should not be worried about COVID-19 infection.
The
coronavirus infection is on the rise, but the AIDS-infected people should not be
worried if they are having their medicines regularly, she said.
The World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1 every year.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 December 2020.
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