Kathmandu, September 2:

Assistant minister for health and population, Nitchhe SJB Rana, today underscored the need for a multi-sector approach, with participation of all stakeholders, to fight HIV/AIDS. The government is formulating a draft for the purpose, he said. Rana said this while releasing a book Treatment Training for Advocates. Nava Kiran Plus (NKP) — a non-government organisation working in the sector of HIV/AIDS — has published the book. Dr Shyam Sundar Mishra, director at National Centre for AIDS and STD Control (NCASC) said a rule out assessment of HIV infections done on 2002 in all five regions of the country underscored the need for community home-based treatment and giving Anti Retro Viral (ARV) therapy for HIV/AIDS infected, and the government has already begun the services in two development regions.

A national work plan 2005-06 has already allocated budget for the treatment of HIV/AIDS infected, he added. “There is a need for a separate institution to work in HIV/AIDS sector. Deficiency of skilled manpower has been a constraint for expanding the services in all parts of the country,” Mishra said. Rajiv Kafle, president, NKP, highlighting the objectives and obstacles of the organisation, said treatment, care, support, advocacy and lobbying and literacy are all needed to fight HIV/AIDS. “Lack of human resources to implement the programmes, death of skilled manpower, burnout and limited financial support have been constraints in the multiplication of NKP centres,” he said.