Looking through the old pages of time, Banke's Gaumati finds only sad and difficult days. She lost her husband at the age of 25. After that, the responsibility of raising a three-year-old son alone fell on his shoulders.

She had endured so far, but when she found out that she also got the same disease that her husband had died of, then the whole world became dark for her . Gaumati couple had a common disease – HIV. 

She was gathering a little courage and courage to deal with the disease, but the mistreatment of the society, the changing behavior of relatives and neighbors hurt her even more . Gaumati, who was diagnosed with HIV at the age of 28, is now 48 years old. Now it seems like he is nursing an old wound. Because Gaumati herself is involved in the campaign to rehabilitate HIV-infected people in the society . His only wish is, 'No one should have to bear the hurt and humiliation like me. 

Remembering the old days, Gaumati said, "People used to say, you shouldn't even touch it." He was also afraid to get close to the infected because he would be infected.'  Her heart hurt the most when people were afraid to touch her son and misbehaved. For years, Gaumati had to face problems like not being invited by her relatives during the festival, closing the door of her family, and having no friends to talk to in the tol society.  She was facing social exclusion. Even though he tried to isolate the little son by speaking bad words, his heart was broken . When the accusations started increasing, she also tested her son. Fortunately, HIV infection was not seen in the son . 

A single woman is abused because she has HIV. Those days were really difficult for him. In 063 she fell ill. He had to stay in the hospital for three months for treatment. But even then he didn't get help from anyone . During the same treatment, Dr. working at Bheri Hospital. Zira meets Sarki . From him, Gaumati came to know that there is also an organization that works for the rights of HIV-infected people. In 059, the National HIV AIDS Federation (NAPN) was established in Far West. She joined the organization after Dr. Jira said. And Kailali arrived with the help of this organization.

Although Kailali came from Banke, the problem did not leave her. Society was the same. Remembering that day, Gaumati said, 'After coming to Kailali, my problem got worse  . How many were kicked out of the house after finding out that they had HIV. He wouldn't treat us like a dog.'  Even though she was like a character of

society, she was already strong inside . She has worked as a coordinator of the Federation for a long time in Kailali. She fought for the rights of HIV infected people. Whether it is to make it easier for the infected to live in the society or to fill them with confidence by listening to their thoughts, she has always been active. 

18 years have passed since Gaumati left Nepalgunj. After reaching Kailali, she brought up her son. She got married. After 19 years of losing contact with Mait, his brother came looking for him. In Gaumati's experience of almost two decades after being infected, there has been a change in society's behavior towards HIV infected people. But the trend of insults and insults has not been eradicated yet. 

Gaumati has the same experience - Gautam from Tikapur also . Although the infection was confirmed 15 years ago at the age of 32, he remained silent for a long time . Not only did he take strict precautions so that the family and society would know about his illness, he did not even take medicine. He started treatment in 2072 after the symptoms increased. But then he suffered more humiliation from the society . He said, "Not only me, my family also suffered the same discrimination." With regular medication, Gautam does not feel physically weak now. But to shake his confidence, the society sometimes behaves in a bad way. 

Society is slowly changing

Many organizations working in this area in the Far West, where there is a large number of HIV infected people, come and go. Hemant Ojha, provincial supervisor of the Far West of the National HIV AIDS Federation, says that 15 organizations working in this field are still active in the Far West. These organizations are working on issues like free medicine, health insurance, free education for the children of infected single women to change the understanding of the society about HIV infection. 

In spite of dozens of non-governmental organizations and government initiatives, Gaumati said that there is still a misunderstanding about HIV infected people in the society and said that the society is yet to change completely.  She says, "The infected have started to open up." And they have stopped being discriminated against in public.'

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a combination of drugs used to treat HIV that suppresses the replication of the virus and stops the progression of the disease. It also reduces the risk of HIV transmission. Gaumati, who is also taking sugar and blood pressure medication, says that the behavior of the society and the love of the family also have a great meaning in the lives of HIV infected people. 

1 thousand 37 people are taking ART services from Seti Provincial Hospital. Lokraj Paneru, head of the hospital's ART department, says that society's perception is changing due to easy availability of drugs, access to education and various campaigns and public awareness programs related to HIV AIDS. He said, "None of the infected people who come to the hospital complain of being discriminated against." He said that although the government has provided free medicine and health insurance for patients, it has not been able to support their children's education. He said, "Although education up to the secondary level is free, the government should provide free higher education."

Due to the continuous initiatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations, the number of HIV infected people in Far West has started to decrease . According to the data of Provincial Health Directorate Doti, the infection rate has started to decrease in the total number of people tested. Likewise, the death rate of HIV infected people is also decreasing. 

According to the provincial health directorate, in the financial year 2078/79, 91 thousand 44 people were tested and 325 people were infected. 79 people infected with HIV died this year. In the financial year 079/80, out of 144,649 people tested, 252 people were found to be HIV infected. 64 people infected with HIV died this year . In the financial year 080/81, 1 lakh 11 thousand 149 people were tested for HIV . In which HIV infection was confirmed in 218 people and 64 infected people died this year.

In fiscal year 081/82, 3,302 people were tested and 70 people were found to be HIV infected.

Manoj Ojha, public health officer of the Directorate of Health, Doti, said that although the infection rate and death rate seem to be numerically the same, they have decreased to some extent. He said that currently about 3,700 people are taking ART services from 18 ART centers in Far West. He says that patients from faraway places have problems because they have to come to the headquarters to get medicine from the hilly districts. He said that the patients would be relieved if the provincial government arranges transportation.   

Steps taken by the government

Sudurpaschim state government, local government have been allocating budget under various headings to reduce HIV infection. According to the Ministry of Social Development, in the current financial year 081/82, the provincial government has allocated 1.5 million for nutrition and education support, 6 million for trainer training for health workers, 3 million for machine and material repair and gin expert site, and 5 million for basic and refresher training for medical officers and health assistants, ART counselors working in HIV centers.

In the last fiscal year 080/81, nutrition and education support (at the rate of 500 rupees per month) was allocated 16 lakh 62 thousand rupees for HIV-infected children . Health directorate Doti said that 227 infected children across the province have benefited from this amount.

The government has arranged health insurance for HIV infected people. From which the families of the infected get free medicines and annual health care expenses worth 1 lakh. 95 percent of HIV infected people in the Far West are taking insurance services . Out of the remaining five percent, some of them are in India due to employment and some of them are not covered by the insurance because they are Indian citizens. Ojha said . 

Some local levels in Far West have also allocated funds in the areas of HIV infection prevention and patient protection. Godavari, Tikapur, Gauriganga, Bhajani, Lamkichuha Municipality of Kailali, Shikhar Municipality of Doti, Purvi Chowki, Sayal, Badikedar Rural Municipality, Mellekh, Dhakari, Chowrapati Rural Municipality of Achham, Mangalsen Municipality of Achham, Patan Municipality of Baitadi have allocated a total of 63 lakh 76 thousand 985 rupees.

Many of these municipalities have allocated budgets from 80/81, while Lamki Chuha Municipality of Kailali said  It has been allocating money continuously since 5 years. Janak Awasthi, public health inspector of the municipality, said that the Godavari municipality has been releasing funds for the past three years. He said that the municipality will work with the HIV-infected group through the ward. He said that he is spending money according to their demands and needs after discussion. The Badikedar Rural Municipality of Doti has been providing the allocated amount to the patients at the rate of 20,000 annually. According to Public Health Inspector Yogendra Shahi of Badikedar, the amount is distributed in the name of nutrition and treatment expenses.

Although the budget allocated by the local level has not solved all the problems, it has made HIV transmission easier, said Ojha, the public health officer of the Health Directorate. He said that it is necessary for the government to create a quota system and increase access to education for HIV infected children.