Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, June 18:

Experts, speaking on the concluding day of the two-day orientation on ‘HIV/-AIDS: Some Perspectives’, said fight against HIV/AIDS should be launched side by side with drives against gender inequality and poverty. They said poverty, lack of transparency, and conflict were fuelling its spread. Dr Sharad Onta said, “Drug companies, which have invested a lot of money to develop anti-HIV/AIDS drugs, are looking for returns. HIV-positive patients are not getting treatment due to the lack of a democratic state mechanism.” “Women have been highly affected by HIV/AIDS due to a male-dominated social structure,” said Dr Aruna Uprety, stressing power imbalance between men and women be addressed to prevent spread of HIV/AIDS.