Rupandehi, November 6:

At a time when many HIV/AIDS infected persons may find their lives hard to live, Rupa Bhattarai, who is HIV positive today recalled her experience, saying that one should not feel let down after being infected with HIV.

Speaking at a one-day programme on “AIDS means politics” organised by the Federation of Nepalese Journalist, Rupandehi, and Conscious Media Forum, Kathmandu, she said: “It is not true that one dies soon after being infected with HIV. Look at me, I am spreading awareness about the disease among women folk in villages.”

She said she went on to contact Nawakiran Plus, the district-based organisation working to fight HIV/AIDS, after her driver husband died of the disease.

“The same organisation helped me,” she said. She also said that an HIV positive person naturally loses immune power to fight the disease, but one can lengthen his/her life if he/she lives properly by altering life style and food.

On the occasion, it was also said the National AIDS Council formed in 2002 with the objective of formulating policies and programmes to fight HIV/AIDS has not yet held a single meeting.

Hiranya Joshi of the Conscious Media Forum said not a single meeting was called after the formation of the council.

He added that with health ministers changing frequently, HIV/AIDS-related programmes could not be implemented effectively.