Damauli, April 29 A report prepared by Support Group, Tanahun, shows that HIV-infected persons prefer not to socialise fearing discrimination in society. Support Group, Tanahun, has been helping HIV-infected persons in the district. Chair of the group Shreeram Kandel said HIV-infected persons mostly kept to themselves to escape negative stigma associated with being HIV-positive in the community. Kandel said the infected had to cope with social, psychological and medical conditions surrounding them, which also distanced them further from society. An analysis of data and investigation of more than half of the infected persons in the district reveals that they either do not disclose their health condition or live in isolation in society. Kandel said, “There were around 445 HIV-infected persons in Tanahun, as per the health office statistics.” Of them only 228 infected are in contact with the group. Support Group has been working for rehabilitation of HIV-infected persons into society. It also provides psychological and medical counselling for the infected, besides conducting various awareness programmes. Kandel regrets that some infected persons die untimely deaths as they conceal their health condition and do not come in contact with doctors for medication. HIV infected persons can live longer if they take medicines on time. Kandel said spread of HIV infection could be curbed if rehabilitation and awareness programmes were effectively run in society.