HIV/AIDS prevention

HIV/AIDS becoming the pressing problem in all contexts of all parts of the world. Nepal has its own situation of AIDS spreading and becoming a serious pandemic threat to public health and development of communities. ”Trafficking — contributes to the spread of HIV by significantly increasing the vulnerability of trafficked person to infection” said Caitlin Wiesen-Antin, HIV/AIDS regional co-coordinator, Asia & Pacific for the UNDP.”Both human trafficking and HIV greatly threaten human development and security.” The link between human trafficking and HIV/AIDS has only been identified fairly recently.” Neither HIV/AIDS nor human trafficking have been integrated or mainstreamed adequately, either at policy or programmatic level.” -Wisen-Antin told the International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific.
ETSC/N has been implementing the HIV/AIDS and human trafficking prevention programme in Makwanpur District of Nepal. ETSC/N has identified that Makwanpur district isn’t only the highest ranking area for human trafficking but also the most vulnerable area for the transmission of HIV/AIDS/STI. Women, girls, young boys, men coming back from India and other countries imposes high risk of sexually transmitted diseases in this area. Moreover the people here lack awareness on such diseases or are intimidated by family honors, tradition and social exclusion because of which they hide their disease or don’t take any steps for test. Spouses of the migrant worker also are unaware of the possibilities of HIV/AIDS/STI and take no initiative in making their spouse to take test. Drug abuse also exists in this area among youths and adolescent making them vulnerable to HIV/AIDS/STI. Sub health post and health post in the VDC’s of Makwanpur lack proper facilities for HIV/AIDS/STI test and treatment. Some of the agencies are working in the Makwanpur however there is lack of HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention initiatives targeted to youths, women and migrant groups.