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 Evangelical Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Nepal has s tarted to implement an HIV curriculum.