World AIDS Day
02 Dec 09
Award-winning INF posters about HIV
Award-winning INF posters about HIV

Yesterday was the 22nd annual World AIDS Day, held to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS.

Nepal recorded its first case of HIV in 1988, and the United Nations AIDS programme UNAIDS now estimates that there are more than 75,000 HIV+ people in Nepal.

According to UNAIDS the people at greatest risk of becoming HIV+ in Nepal include female sex workers and their clients, injecting drug users and migrant workers.

It is estimated that 5,000 people in Nepal have died from AIDS.

Based in Pokhara, INF's 'Paluwa' HIV / AIDS programme is involved in the care and support of people with HIV / AIDS. It raises awareness of HIV / AIDS among people most at risk and trains thousands of people in community groups. Paluwa [a Nepali word meaning 'new shoot' or, metaphorically, 'new life'] also provides voluntary counselling and testing, supportive counselling, and basic clinical and palliative care, together with socio-economic assistance for people with HIV / AIDS and their families. Paluwa recently began new work in Nepal's Baglung District, building the capacity of government services and raising awareness of HIV / AIDS.

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