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When Khagendra Khadka of Dharan found out that he was infected with HIV, the world felt dark. On the one hand, the fear of what the family and society will say, on the other hand, the fear of not living much longer. He was diagnosed with HIV 26 years ago while using drugs.
Even five years after the infection was confirmed, he could not get rid of drugs. In 2063, with the help of a rehabilitation center, he was freed from addiction. Since then, Khadka has joined various social organizations and has been advocating and counseling for the benefit of the infected. The infected have many experiences of being discriminated against and stigmatized due to HIV infection.
Khadka's arm was broken in an accident 23 years ago. When he went to the hospital for treatment, after learning that he was infected in the report, the health workers sent him away with only a 'bandage' instead of a 'plaster'. So that one of his hands is still not in good condition . Khadka says that there is a stark difference between the attitude towards HIV infected people before and now. He says, 'The time when the infection was confirmed to me is different from now . They may be stigmatized in the society, but it is much less than before.' According to him, with regular medication intake, healthy lifestyle and nutritious diet, HIV infected people can live an active life . He says, I have alerted the family and society to be safe from AIDS. Everyone should behave safely . I have a wife and two children . None of them have an infection.'
He was also the president of the National HIV and AIDS Federation of Nepal and said that positive thinking provides energy to live life. The association is working to improve the lives of the infected, to identify at-risk communities through testing and to protect them from further risks.
26-year-old Yashoda Timilsina has been advocating and counseling many infected people like herself after her HIV infection was confirmed. He suggested, 'Earlier, this disease was considered fatal. Now there is no such situation . There is no need to fear and panic as soon as the infection occurs because there are medicines available to live longer.' According to the latest statistics of the National Center for AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases Control, it is estimated that 30,300 people have been infected with HIV in Nepal by the end of 2023.
In 2023, it is estimated that 457 people were newly infected with HIV. In 2023 alone, it is estimated that 221 people died due to AIDS. In Nepal, people at high risk of HIV infection include people who inject drugs, sex workers, prisoners in prisons, gay men and transgender people, and foreign workers. Among these, injection drug users and male homosexual sex workers have higher infection rates than other risk groups.
In order to achieve the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic in Nepal by 2030, it is said that 95 percent of HIV infected people will know about their infection status, 95 percent of them will have access to drug treatment, and 95 percent of those taking those drugs should have a low viral load. World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1 every year. This year, the 37th AIDS Day is being celebrated with various public awareness programs under the slogan 'Ensure everyone's rights to end AIDS'.
