Due to a lack of adequate awareness, unsafe behavior, and the tendency to avoid timely testing, HIV infection remains a matter of concern in Palpa. A total of 842 people living with HIV have been identified in the district so far, while 12 children are among those currently receiving treatment.
According to the Acting Chief of the Health Office Palpa, Tuk Prasad Pokharel, 354 people living with HIV are currently taking Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) medication on a regular basis. They are receiving treatment services through ART centers operated at Palpa Hospital and Rampur Hospital.
Pokharel informed that five people died of HIV/AIDS-related causes in the district during the last fiscal year. He urged people living with HIV to take their medication regularly, undergo health check-ups, maintain a balanced diet, and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Pokharel stated that although HIV can be controlled through regular medication, stigma and discrimination in society continue to discourage some people from openly seeking treatment services. He said that people living with HIV can lead normal and healthy lives if they undergo timely testing and continue treatment, emphasizing that all stakeholders need to play an active role in raising public awareness.
Shobhakar Neupane, Branch Manager of the Nepal Family Planning Association, Palpa, said that inadequate knowledge about HIV, risky sexual behavior, delayed testing, and persistent discrimination against people living with HIV continue to pose challenges to controlling the infection. According to him, although awareness about HIV has been increasing, various misconceptions and false beliefs still exist, particularly in rural areas. He stressed the need to make community-level awareness programs more effective and ensure access to testing and treatment services for all in order to control the spread of the infection.