Kavre, March 13:

HIV/AIDS patients said yesterday that the new constitution should establish their rights.

They were speaking at the first national conference of the HIV/AIDS patients that kicked off in Dhulikhel. Representatives of HIV/AIDS patients from across the nation are attending the conference.

Singing Deuda songs, HIV/AIDS patients from the far-western region demanded that their demands be addressed. The patients said their representatives should be elected in the Constituent Assembly to establish their rights. They said there should not be any discrimination in access to the treatment of their disease.

“We will go to the polls with the agenda of health rights,” chairman of the National HIV/AIDS Federation Nepal Rajiv Kafle said, demanding that the government nominate at least one of their representatives to the CA. According to him, the government can nominate 26 members to the CA.

Stating that the government has neglected the demands of HIV/AIDS patients, he said, “We will also ask leaders who come to seek votes to meet our demands.” Meena Kunwar of the far-western region said one of the representatives of the HIV/AIDS should be elected in the CA polls. “The government should not ignore our demands,” she said.

HIV/AIDS patient Santosh Rawal, who is contesting the first-past-the-post elections from constituency no. 1 in Dailekh district, said, “I have filed my candidacy to ensure the rights of HIV/AIDS patients.”

“Some parties are piling pressure on me to withdraw my candidacy, but I will not relent,” Rawal said.

Arjun Gurung, another HIV/AIDS patient who has filed his candidacy from constituency no. 1 in Kaski district, said he wants to establish the rights of HIV/AIDS patients.

HIV/AIDS patients have also formed a struggle committee to ensure their rights. The struggle committee has put forth various demands, including access of treatment in all districts, end to discrimination in treatment and utilisation for all funds

provided by foreign donors for the welfare of HIV/AIDS patients.