Kathmandu, May 10:

The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) today agreed to reserve six beds in the regional hospitals for people living with HIV/AIDS.

An agreement to this effect was reached today in a meeting between the ministry representatives and the Advocacy Task Force, a struggle committee of People Living with HIV/AIDS.

The ministry agreed to provide six beds, a separate Anti Retroviral Unit and ARV doctors and a Social Service Unit in the regional hospitals where ARV service is provided. It also assured the agitating side that the government would buy a viral load machine within six months. The machine counts the HIV content in a blood sample.

“We will wait and watch if our demands are met or not and do the needful if they are

ignored,” said Sibu Giri, one of the talks team member from the ATF. The ATF has been staging sit-in in front of Sukra Raj Tropical Hospital premises since April 14 and in Department of Health Services since May 2.

Dr Nirakar Man Shrestha, special secretary of the ministry, Dr Saroja Malla from Public Health Office, Dr Padam Bahadur Chand, director of NCSC had represented the ministry during the meeting.