Let’s think and act in this era of HIV

When people hear about HIV, all that comes into their mind is death, fear and rejection. Stigma and discrimination takes its roots and people tend to avoid the problem instead of confronting it. Instead of fighting HIV and AIDS, they fight people and this is the beginning of discrimination and violation of human rights.

The people living with HIV prefer secrecy and isolation to the risk of exposure, rejection and discrimination, causing many to remain cut off from information, treatment, care and support in their communities.

HIV and AIDS is a rare word spoken by both literate and illiterate people.

The ongoing disaster is far away compared to Rita, Wilma hurricane, earthquakes, hunger and floods.  A big silence as it engulfs, affecting people, shaking countries socio-economic sphere and bringing hopelessness. Globally 33.3 Million People are living with HIV and 7000 get infected everyday. How many people are living with HIV in your country? The men, women and children are not spared either!

Dealing with the challenge and reality of HIV,  promoting care and acceptance of those living positively and their involvement is not only a moral requirement for every one, but also an integral part of HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support. In Nepal, the majority of people who test positive are shy of publicly declaring their Sero-status and one of the ways to overcome fear is strengthening networks and institutions to provide platform for their support and ensuring everyone in the community have accurate information and informed about the importance of HIV test.

The involvement and interaction of religious leaders and people living with HIV can also reinforce the seriousness of the epidemic and inspire hope towards achieving Zero-HIV infections, Zero- deaths and Zero -discrimination.

 

 

The Evangelical Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Nepal has started to implement an HIV curriculum.