Vol. 1, No.

2 Global Journal of Health Science

Issues and Challenges of HIV/AIDS Prevention

and Treatment Programme in Nepal

Sharada Prasad Wasti (Corresponding Author)

Department of Public Health, School of Medicine
University of Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
Tel: 44-122-455-9165 E-mail: spwasti@[Link]

Padam Simkhada
Section of Population Health, School of Medicine
University of Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
Tel: 44-122-455-2491 E-mail: [Link]@[Link]

Julian Randall
University of Aberdeen, Business School
AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
Tel: 44-122-455-2491 E-mail: [Link]@[Link]

Edwin van Teijlingen

Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health Research
School of Health & Social Care, Royal London House
University of Bournemouth, Bournemouth BU1 3LT
Tel: 1202-961-564 E-mail: vanteijlingen@[Link]

Abstract
This paper explores some of the key issues and challenges of government HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment
programme in Nepal. Providing HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services in Nepal is associated with a number of
issues and challenges which are shaped mostly on cultural and managerial issues from grass root to policy level.
Numerous efforts have been done and going on by Nepal government and non-government organization but still HIV
prevention and treatment service is not able to reach all the most at risk populations because cultural issues and
managerial issues are obstructing the services. The existing socio-cultural frameworks of Nepal do not provide an
environment for any safe disclosure for person who is HIV infected. Thus, there is an urgent need to address those
issues and challenges and strengthen the whole spectrums of health systems through collaborative approach to achieve
the millennium development goals. It will be the purpose of this paper to contribute to the policy makers by exploring
the pertinent issues and challenges in the HIV/AIDS programme.
Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Prevention, Treatment, Cultural issue, Nepal
1. Background of the study
For more than two decades, the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and its aetiological agent, the Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been a growing challenge worldwide. HIV/AIDS is recognized as a global
emergency demanding the attention on the international health agenda and one of the most important public health
issues (WHO 2006). The spread of HIV/AIDS has reached a pandemic form within a short span of time. A total of 33
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million people are estimated to be living with HIV across the globe, 2.7 million people became infected with the virus
and 2 million people have lost their life due to AIDS (UNAIDS 2008). Every day, more than 6800 people become
infected with HIV and more than 5700 die, mostly because they have no access to HIV prevention, treatment and care
services (UNAIDS 2008). The United Nations included HIV in its sixth millennium development goals which stated in
combating and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015 as well as to achieve universal access by 2010 (WHO 2008a).
This paper discusses the government’s efforts on HIV/AIDS programme management and explores some of the key
issues and challenges of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programme in Nepal. Its impact is necessarily wider than
just medical and includes the cultural and managerial considerations which govern success in medical interventions.
2. Literature search strategy
Electronic journals and reports were accessed by using Medline, Science Direct, Google and Google Scholar. The
search strategy was limited to published year from 1990 to 2009. Other “grey literature” (especially policy documents)
published by national and international, governmental and non governmental organizations (UNAIDS, WHO, UNGASS,
Ministry of Health and Population, NCASC) was also searched.
3. HIV /AIDS programme
3.1 HIV/AIDS epidemiology in Nepal
HIV/AIDS is a major public health concern in Nepal (MoPH 2005), since its first case was reported in 1988. Currently,
Nepal is depicted from a “low prevalence” to a “concentrated epidemic” (UN 2008). According to the National Centre
for AIDS and STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) Control (NCASC), there were 12933 HIV positive people, 2151
people living with AIDS and 509 AIDS cases were reported to have died by the end of 2008 (NCASC 2008a). The
HIV/AIDS cases in Nepal from 1988 to 2008 years wise male and female cases are shown below figure 1.
<Figure 1>
Poor surveillance systems and the lack of access to quality voluntary counselling and testing services, means prevalence
figures are likely to be a gross under estimate. However, the United Nations estimates that the current prevalence is
about 0.49% in the adult population, and the estimates number of people living with HIV/AIDS at 75,000. The
prevalence in the general population may still be low but it is increasing prevalence in several risk groups. The
difference between these two data demonstrates the seriousness of the problem.
The highest burden of people living with HIV is estimated seasonal labour migrants (41%) followed by the, injecting
drugs users (34.7%), clients of sex workers (16%) and 21% partners of HIV positive men (WHO/UNAIDS 2008,
WHO/UNAIDS 2006, NCASC 2007a). Majority (74.5%) of HIV infection in Nepal is through sexual transmission and
followed by injecting drug use and perinatal were found to be the third main route of HIV transmission (table 1).
< Table 1>
However, the distribution of HIV prevalence across the country is uneven. It shows that almost 50 percent of all HIV
infection lies in the terrain highway epidemic region which constitutes from the east to the west of the country, followed
by the hill region 19 percent, far western and Kathmandu valley 16 percent each respectively (NCASC 2007b).
3.2 HIV/AIDS prevention
The aim of the HIV prevention programme is to change individual behaviour of those at risk of infection to change to
less risky behaviour by adopting consistent condom use, or stop sharing of injection equipment and providing
antiretroviral drugs to pregnant women to child transmission. In addition, preventing subsequent HIV transmission by
those new and identified as infected is an important goal (WHO 2008b). The HIV/AIDS prevention programmes in
Nepal have included by media, poster/pamphlets campaign. Similarly, other programmes also have included such as
information education communication, behaviour change interventions, safer sex behaviour, condom promotion,
identifying and treating STIs, harm reduction, voluntary counselling and testing services, sexual health and HIV/AIDS
to youth, preventing mother to child transmission and treatment of adults through antiretroviral drugs (FHI 2004).
However, the absence of above prevention interventions even a “low to concentrated growth of HIV” would make
AIDS the leading cause of death in Nepal.
3.3 Government efforts
The main government agency responsible for HIV/AIDS and STD is under the Ministry of Health and Population. The
Government of Nepal lunched the first National AIDS prevention and control programme in 1988 with the
implementation of a short-term plan (Subedi 2003). At the beginning, the country provided priority in prevention
approaches. A number of local and International Non Governmental Organizations (INGOs), the Government of Nepal
and donors have developed well targeted model prevention programmes reaching difficult to access populations with
different prevention programmes (DoHS 2004). Similarly, in 1995 the Government of Nepal formulated a national
policy with the consultation of different stakeholders for the control of HIV/AIDS. Provisions were made for reducing

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stigma and discriminatory practices against people living with HIV/AIDS, confidentiality of blood testing and safe
blood transfusion in this policy (MoHP 2007).
There have been diverse efforts to mitigate the increasingly devastating impact of HIV/AIDS in Nepal. The country has
proceeded through many phases of AIDS and STD prevention and treatment efforts (table 2).
< Table 2>
In 2001 Nepal initiated a special programme named as “Nepal Initiative” which was developed on assessing the
increasing incidence of HIV among high risk behaviour groups (Subedi 2003). Documentation of a rapidly increasing
HIV prevalence among drug users and clients of sex workers over the past several years led the country to question the
effectiveness of prevention approaches. In this regard, NCASC developed a national strategy on HIV/AIDS in 2002
which was a milestone in national efforts to combat the epidemic in the country. It was developed for five years (2002 –
2006) which has subsequently been translated into a five year HIV/AIDS operational work plan for 2003 – 2007 (World
Bank 2006). This strategy had been formulated different activities such as prevention of STI and HIV among most at
risk groups, prevention of new infections among young people, ensuring care and support services, expansion of
monitoring and evaluation frame, establishment of an effective and efficient management and implementation
mechanism. Although the strategy address a wide range of programme issues and its implementation also need to be
effective (Sharma 2004, NCASC 2003).
A number of multilateral and bilateral organizations support HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes in Nepal,
including interventions for vulnerable groups, condom promotion, STI testing, behaviour change communication,
volunteer counselling and testing services and providing antiretroviral drugs. But what is being done on the field of
HIV/AIDS by these organizations are not enough to address the pertinent cultural issues in grass-root level and
management issues in service provider level. These should be clearly identified otherwise the problems will continue
unless the root causes of these issues and challenges are identified.
4. Major issues and challenges for HIV prevention and treatment
Despite the progress that has been made still many issues and challenges are unidentified either programme
management level or services seeking level. The facts that the number of new HIV infections continues to increase that
have impacted the current efforts on the evaluation of the HIV epidemic. Thus, the ultimate goal of this paper is to
identify those issues and challenges for the effective response.
4.1 Limited coverage of prevention programme
Two decades has taken place in HIV/AIDS prevention. To date the health service has had limited success in addressing
the need of the commercial/female sex workers such as poor knowledge about safe sex and poor negotiation of condom
use (World Bank 2008, Limbu 2007). Sexual transmission is a key driver of HIV transmission in Nepal. Sex workers
are both at high risk because of multiple sexual partners and highly vulnerable because of environmental and structural
barriers that prevent them from accessing prevention services and having control over their activities (Vuylsteke et al
2007). For example, Nepalese young women with their traditionally lower social status, they have knowledge about
HIV/AIDS and STD but they have no access to means of protection which is more pertinent to cultural issue. Similarly,
still many village women do not consider themselves at risk of HIV/AIDS/STIs from their migrant husbands because
they do not believe their husbands are having sex with other partners or sex workers (Bondurant et al 2001). But the
evidence shows that 27% of Nepali migrants who work in India were engaged in high risk sexual behaviours and
frequently visited sex workers. One of the high migration districts reported nearly 50% of suspected PLWHAs (34 out
of 71 cases) were migrants (CARE 2004).
The size of the IDUs population also varied by location and they are found to be highly mobile. Nepal was the first
developing country to establish a harm reduction programme with needle exchange but theprogramme’s coverage is
found very limited (Vuylsteke et al. 2009). Similarly, men having sex with men in Nepal is still a taboo subject (Pokhrel
et al. 2008).
Young people are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS due to their poor knowledge about sexual health; poor translate of safe sex
practice and limited condom use because adults do not talk to children about sexual matters (Pokhrel et al. 2008). On
the other hand there are strong cultural taboos against premarital and extramarital sexual relations but young people are
practicing risky sexual behaviour such as having multiple partners and non-use of condoms. Various studies showed
that electronic media (radio, TV, internet) are the primary source of information to the young people and a significant
proportion of young people use these media in their leisure time (UNGASS 2006). Similarly, teachers, peer, health
workers, poster/pamphlets were other prime sources of information. Sex and HIV education is included in school and
college curricula but there is a question about how can dropout student will take this information. Moreover, the
methods of teaching remain didactic (Shimkhada & Karki 2002). Similarly, sexual health is a sensitive issue in
Nepalese culture as a result; only 27.6% of female and 43.67% of male young people can currently identify ways of
preventing the sexual transmission of HIV (NDHS 2007). Moreover, despite the cultural and social norms, girls are

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traditionally lower status; they have knowledge about HIV/AIDS and STD but no access to means of protection
([Link] Pigg 200). Thus, Nepal lack of educational programmes based on
behavioural science and access to youth friendly information. In this regards, still many Nepalese youth are at risk of
acquiring HIV which is a big challenge to the government to tackle these socio-cultural taboos.
4.2 Limited condoms use
The condoms are considered best weapons to fight against HIV/AIDS transmission. Availability shall be ensured and
correct ways of use shall be promoted (Karkee & Shrestha 2006). The spread of AIDS would be slowed if more people
used condoms (NCASC 2007). In Nepal, very few drug users are using condom ranging from 34% to 51% with regular
and non-regular sex partners among them adolescent condom use in their first sexual contact was found to be only 14%
(Limbu 2007). Still, it is a taboo to talk about sexuality in Nepalese society and people might feel embarrassed about it
buying condoms from pharmacies (Poudel et al 2008). A study in Nepal revealed that, only 14% of married men and
4% of married women had reported using condoms for the prevention of HIV/AIDS & STI (CREHPA/NDI 2006).
Similarly, a study revealed that HIV positive men in Kathmandu who had sex did not always use condom (Poudel et al.
2008).
On the other hand, government supply of condoms is irregular and no accessibility of free condom in remote areas
which in turn discourages target groups for adopting safer sex practices (UNAIDS/FHI 2007). Studies overwhelmingly
demonstrate that condoms are highly effective in preventing HIV transmission (Wegbreita et al 2006) but availability
and regular use is found a big issue.
Thus, government should need to access the success history of other countries such as Thailand, Uganda and so on
(Bertozzi 2008). In 1989 Thiland was initiated “100% condom programme” targeted sex workers. No Condom No Sex
was propagated through mass media and workplace which was credited for reducing new HIV infections by 80% and
STDs by 90% within three years (Rojanpithayakorn 2006, Chen 2007). Thus, we need to identify whether similar
intervention in Nepal would be possible and equally effective.
4.3 Inadequate surveillance system
The surveillance data is scarce in Nepal however the existing medical and public health infrastructure in Nepal and the
lack of continuity in National HIV/AIDS reporting mechanisms, it is very likely that the actual number of cases is many
times higher. The discrepancy in reported versus estimated HIV/AIDS cases is a reflection of this gape. Without this
information, it is very difficult to determine which interventions are more likely to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS.
Similarly, the use of surveillance to understand trends and patterns in HIV epidemic is important in Nepal that
characterized by heterogeneity in terms of the sub-populations affected, geographical distribution and their evolution
over time (NCASC 2007c) but the service is still limited which is big challenge to the NCASC to produce high quality
and complete information for designing interventions programme to the high risk populations which make government
intervention difficult to take contact with vulnerable groups in a diffused population.
4.4 Limited coverage of HIV testing and counselling
Counselling services have a pivotal role in HIV/AIDS care (Gilks 2001). HIV counselling and testing is a major starting
point for accessing and being informed on HIV/AIDS related services which provide psychological support (Lamptey
2006). Basic assumption that widespread uptake of Voluntary Testing and Counselling (VCT) within communities can
help “to normalise HIV/AIDS to reduce AIDS related stigma and to raise awareness of the epidemic” (UNAIDS 2001)
and represents a mechanism for referral into care and treatment in health centres. The knowledge of sero-status may
lead individuals to avoid engaging in risky behaviours and increases abstinence (Birdsal et al. 2004, Wegbreita et al.
2006). So the government intervention needs to focus on these particular groups.
Due to the limited access of testing facilities, 90% of HIV positive people in Nepal are unaware of their status and even
though there is available of treatment services, so many people living with HIV are dying without knowing their status
(Kshetry 2008). On the other hand, this very limited VCT services are mostly concentrated in urban centres. Weak pre
and post test counselling, difficulties to confirm result and maintaining confidentiality are other issues testing and
counselling service in Nepal (UNAIDS/NCASC 2006). Few public health facilities were equipped with laboratory
services (CD4 count) and most hospitals with laboratories do not have essential equipment and trained technicians.
Technicians in government laboratories have not received recent training on appropriate STI diagnostic procedures
(NCASC, WHO & UNAIDS 2006).
Similarly, coverage of VCT service was very low amongst most at risk groups such as migrants’ workers, drug users,
sex workers and men who have sex with men ([Link]) who are potential carriers of HIV. Effective VCT
is vital for identifying individuals who can benefit from early treatment, for promoting treatment adherence and
bolstering prevention. Unfortunately, there are still challenges on this front. VCT services are available 112 hospitals
and clinic across the country in the public and private sector (UN 2008). However, several key issues were seen for
make available of VCT services in terms of access, infrastructure, trained manpower, quality of services, service

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provision hours (for employed people, students etc), and maintaining private and confidential working spaces. To make
available of complete package of counselling and testing services for those daily increasing HIV infected people is
really challenges to NCASC. It is a well known fact that without preventing HIV among most at risk people, it is not
possible to halt and reverse the HIV epidemic (World Bank 2008).
4.5 Health systems constraints
HIV/AIDS poses a challenge for health and social systems. Although positive steps have now been taken by the
Nepalese government in combating HIV/AIDS, still numerous challenges remain. One issue is the structural inadequacy
of Nepal’s current health care system that was geographically revealed. The basic health services and other social
service systems are poorly functioning and a trained health worker are leaving for better opportunities in urban areas
leaving understaffed in the rural health institutions (UNGASS 2006). However, NCASC is responsible largely for
development of policy and designing of planning for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes and little
progress has been made in the scale up but still arrays of essential support services remain largely inadequate as well as
application of a multi-sectoral approach in practice remains a challenges (Shrestah 2005). The epidemic can not be
tackled only through medical intervention but it requires multi level interventions that seek to involve a variety of
partners in coordinated action that have been shown to be more successful than those that work in isolation but it has
found real challenges for Nepal government to work with all stakeholders in a mutual approaches (UNAIDS 2000).
On the other hand, HIV infected people are not receiving effective health care services. Over 1400 people living with
HIV/AIDS and 36 HIV positive pregnant women were receiving antiretroviral treatment through 23 ARV sites
(NCASC 2008b). These sites not adequately cover to all, as many cannot access this service because it is not practical
for them to travel long distance each morning which is high financial and physical cost for them (UNFPA 2008). It
seems to be a big management issue for adequately expanding HIV treatment sites for targeting vulnerable groups
which is not easy access to the disperse populations. Thus, the policy level people need to address these pertinent issues
and overcome the diminish access to both preventive and medical care services to the high risk populations.
4.6 Financial constraints
HIV/AIDS programme is well-funded areas in any country but this epidemic burdens the economy of any country.
“Prevention makes treatment affordable and treatment can make prevention more effective” (Salomon et al. 2005).
Adequate financial resource for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programme scale up is a great challenge because
poverty is a key factor in propagation of the HIV epidemic. Many of the high risk behaviours that expose people to HIV
are related to poverty (UN 2005). There has been debate regarding the relative allocation of HIV/AIDS funding, how
much should go towards prevention and how much towards treatment, with an emerging consensus at policy level that
prevention and treatment are best viewed as complementary rather than in competition with one another. Increased
access to treatment improves opportunities for HIV prevention through increased HIV testing and increased testing can
reduce stigma and act as an entry point to prevention services. A financial issue for a developing country Nepal has
great challenges for medical care because HIV is chronic in nature. HIV treatment requires a lifetime commitment and
consequently there is a need to find sustainable funding. This is the main management problems for finding and
allocating the adequate financial resources for medical care to people living HIV and AIDS.
4.7 Social and cultural challenges
Nepal is a multicultural and multiethnic society with over one hundred ethnic and caste groups (Dahal 2003).
Socio-cultural norms provide a formidable challenge to efforts to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS. AIDS is a social
and cultural issue, dealing the sex issues regarding in Nepalese society, it is disrespectful. Sexual behaviour is not
openly discussed in Nepal and talking sex is considered impolite. Parents and elders usually do not talk openly about
sex with adolescents ([Link] Pigg 2001) and this cultural constraint is one that
this paper will examine in more detail.
On the other hand, most of the Nepalese PLWHAs do not know their status and so many may continue to be engaging
in unsafe sexual practices. They do not go to test and seek treatment because Nepalese people perceive HIV/AIDS
negatively (UNAIDS/NCASC 2004). They are not ready to discuss in the society and hide their status due to the fear of
the society but not due to the fear of the transmitting the disease. Mass media reinforces this negative attitude towards
HIV/AIDS as the bad person’s disease. It shows the great displeasured about the awareness programme from mass
media for generating negative attitude towards HIV/AIDS. Similarly, commercial sex workers, drugs users, men sex
with men are socially and culturally perceived as being of bad character which directly hinders the utilization of HIV
prevention and treatment services (Beine 2003). Thus, these socio-cultural challenges are responsible to fuel the spread
of HIV/AIDS and diminish access to both preventive and medical care services So, it is time for policy makers to think
seriously address the way the media message.

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4.8 Leadership and coordination

Strong leadership at all levels of society is crucial for an effective response to the HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment
programme. Leadership involves personal commitment and concrete actions unfortunately NCASC is functioning with
instability at the top level of management which is hindering the HIV prevention and treatment programme
effectiveness in the long term. According to UNGASS, NCASC is a poorly functioning in national coordination
mechanism which results in poor policy support (UNGASS 2006). Currently, more than 100 NGOs are working in the
HIV/AIDS field in Nepal and many have several specific programmes but these programmes are scattered and there is a
lack of a common forum and coordinating mechanism to play a significant role in strengthening the programmes with
better output. It is also necessary to examine the impact of intervention on a regular basis (UN 2008). There is lacking
of coordination and collaboration that are always part of good programme management which develop synergies,
maximize resources utilization and reduce duplication of programmes. The National Strategic Plan embodies a
multisectoral response, it has been particularly challenging to maintain interest and engaging non health sectors in the
planning and implementation because HIV/AIDS is not their more interest field. It has largely to be in the area of
strengthening the institutional mechanism both within and outside of NCASC. Inspiring and empowering leadership at
the policy levels to functional levels is needed to transform the national response to HIV and AIDS from a plan into
action. This is a particular challenge to the Nepal government because of frequent turnover of senior manager in
NCASC.
4.9 Stigma and discrimination
Stigma and discrimination are still the much talked issues (Subedi 2007). HIV related stigma significantly impacts on
uptake of HIV testing, negative attitude of services providers, and adherence to HIV treatment and follow up (O’Brien
2009). This reinforces the social constraints of cultural acceptance of medical initiatives.
Due to stigma and discrimination people are less likely to undergo HIV test and seek treatment (O’Brien 2009).
PLWHA hide their disease due to the fear of the separation as well as stigma sculptured by the mass media. It is
important to address and take steps to eliminate stigmatization of most at risk populations when developing HIV/AIDS
prevention interventions programmes. However, Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (2006) have shown that the
awareness among men has gone to a level of 91.7% compared to 72.6% in women; however the level varies with age
group and literacy level (NDHS 2007).
This situation, directly challenges to success of HIV prevention and treatment services. If this situation continues,
government’s efforts will be lost. In this regard, government needs to develop befriending support intervention
programme that should to be culturally appropriate to overcome the stigmatization and discriminations toward people
living with HIV/AIDS by the health personnel in health institutions and also in the community.
4.10 Geographical challenges
Nepal is geographically skewed with mountain, hilly and terrain (plan land) regions where the majority of the
populations (80%) live in rural areas. Due to the geographical complexity, it is also a serious challenge to carry out
mass Information Education and Communication (IEC) services, condom promotion, peer education programme, harm
reduction (needles exchange programme) activities to prevent and treat the high risk groups that is a big difficulties of
management of health interventions. So, no single media to single hospital is effective to carry out the preventive and
treatment intervention in the country, especially in remote areas. Similarly, VCT is provided on an extremely limited
scale and what little is offered is concentred mostly in urban centres where around 80% populations live in rural areas
(UNAIDS/NCASC 2004). On the other hand, unavailability of health personnel in rural areas most of the time doctors
are away from their work place, so absenteeism issues is also a great challenge in mountain and hilly areas.
4.11 Limited coverage of HIV treatment
Life-saving anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) help people living with HIV to have longer and healthier longer. The use of
ARV has lead to a marked reduction in AIDS related morbidity and mortality, in countries where ARVs are widely
available are experiencing clear declines in AIDS related death (Castro 2003), this has led to a 70% decline in deaths
due to HIV/AIDS (WHO/UNAIDS 2006). However, less development has existed in the area of HIV treatment in Nepal
despite the fact that the estimated number of people living with HIV is very high. Over 1400 people living with
HIV/AIDS and 36 HIV positive pregnant women were receiving ARV treatment through 23 health institutions across
the country (NCASC 2008b) but UNAIDS/WHO currently estimated that almost 20,000 adult people and 1500 of
pregnant women living with HIV require ARV right now, in Nepal (WHO/UNAIDS 2008). These sites not adequately
cover to all PLWHAs as many cannot access the services. This is because; we have issues about the availability of HIV
treatment and other side inadequate response of the government. The access to treatment is uneven across and within
countries.
Available evidence from numerous studies indicates that provision of antiretroviral drugs (nevirapine, lamivudine and
zidovudine) to infected mothers significantly reduces vertical transmission, with values ranging from 33–63% reduction

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in transmission (Wegbreita et al. 2006). Thus, PMTCT programme will be one of the entry points for ARV but
numerous issue and challenge (limited testing, counselling, poor referral mechanisms, stigma etc) are hindering to reach
the HIV treatment services in Nepal. These are management issues which could be addressed directly by the policy
level.
4.12 Paediatric HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment
Most children infected with HIV acquire infection from their mothers during pregnancy, labour and delivery or by
breastfeeding (WHO 2004). Infant and children are immensely vulnerable to HIV/AIDS in Nepal which are new born
or unborn. Due to various dynamics affecting their lives, they are identified as immediate risk people. NCASC (2008)
reported that 763 children age less than 15 years aged were reported on HIV positive in Nepal. However, UNICEF
(2007a) estimates that 13,000 children were orphaned and 111,000 children were affected by their parents’ HIV
infection. HIV prevention activities are also an issue such as limited use of condom use in rural areas teenagers, still
high stigma and discrimination, do not want to socialize with infected people and exclude or ignore infected people and
their families at social gathering. Similarly, in health institutions was the most frequent place of discrimination followed
by the family and community (UNICEF 2007b)
The survival prospects of both parents and children are dramatically improved if they are diagnosed and receive ARV
treatment. Correctly used, ARV is very effective, transforming AIDS into a chronic illness for adults and giving
infected children a future. The number of babies who are infected by their HIV positive mothers at birth drops from
around a third to 10 percent or less with appropriate medical intervention. But the overwhelming majority of people
living with HIV do not know their sero-status and consequently their lives and their children’s futures are at risk
(UNICEF 2007b). These are widespread issues and challenges to uptake ARV treatment to the children in Nepal.
According to WHO (2008), only 51 children (under aged 15) were receiving ARV treatment in Nepal, which numbers
of children in need of ARV are much higher than receiving treatment. This is because of the limited number of ARV
site for children in public health system.
5. Conclusion
Limited resources and administrative capacity tied with strong underlying needs for health services (HIV/AIDS
prevention and treatment) create serious challenges to the Government of Nepal. HIV prevention programmes build
individual skills needed to use prevention commodities properly and run preventive and medical services in parallel.
Programmes to prevent HIV transmission often compete with programmes to treat people suffering from AIDS for
limited resources with numerous challenges such as management issues and deep- rooted cultural constraints.
Nepal faces numerous challenges in effectively addressing the HIV prevention and treatment to the epidemic. Critically
the use of condoms, adequately testing and counselling and behavioural change through a social-cultural change will
remain among the most important prevention measures. These can be mobilized by strategic management interventions.
Despite, numerous efforts by Nepal Government, HIV prevention and treatment services are not able to reach the at-risk
populations because there is a gap between top levels to grass root level. Thus, the policy makers seriously need
planning to anticipate and translate the plan into action to prevent and treat the increasing numbers of people living with
HIV/AIDS. There is urgent need to address those issues and challenges and strengthen the whole spectrums of health
systems through collaborative approach to achieve the millennium development goals. We have also identified the need
to address the cultural constraints which may obstruct the use of services offered due to antipathy within or between
groups of sufferers and the general population and without preventing those most at risk people, it is not possible to halt
and reverse the HIV epidemic.
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Table 1. Route of HIV transmission in Nepal

Route of Transmission Total No. of Infection Percent

Sexual intercourse 9712 74.5

Blood or Organ Recipients 38 0.5

Injecting Drug Use 2358 18.2

Perinatal 748 6.0

Unidentified 77 0.6

Total 12933 100.00

Source: NCASC, December, 2008
Table 2. Milestones in HIV /AIDS prevention and treatment efforts in Nepal
Year Activities
1986 Organization of STD/AIDS control committee

1987/88 Lunched the first National short term AIDS prevention and control programme

1990/92 Implementation of medium term plan

1993 Policy adopted for 100% screening of donated blood

1993/97 Implementation of second medium term plan for AIDS/STD control

1995 National policy on AIDS and STD prevention adopted

1997-2001 Strategic plan for HIV/AIDS prevention adopted

1999 Started integrated bio-behavioural survey (IBBS)

2002 National AIDS council formed

2002 – 2006 National strategy for HIV/AIDS prevention adopted

2003- 2007 Operational plan for HIV/AIDS control

2003 National Voluntary Counselling & Testing (VCT) guidelines

2004 Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment started / National ARV guidelines

2004 Standard operating procedures on ARV for Sukraraj Tropical Hospital

2004 STI case management guidelines developed

2006 - 2011 Second National HIV/AIDS strategy

2006 - 2008 National action plan

2008 - 2011 Three year National plan

Source: DHS, 2005-6, NCASC, 2007

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2000 HIV/AIDSCasesinNepal(1988Ͳ2008)
1800
1600
No.ofPeoplewithHIV

1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

M ale 3 0 2 12 39 41 18 71 50 394 166 174 301 264 360 505 942 907 1750 1239 1388
Female 1 2 3 14 38 40 22 39 85 95 54 48 95 60 107 209 340 327 931 798 999
Year

Sources: Subedi 2006, NCASC 2008

Figure 1. HIV/AIDS cases in Nepal (1988 – 2008)

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