Kathmandu, May 30:

The third national AIDS conference will be held in Kathmandu from July 4 to 7, the National Centre for AIDS and STD Control said today.

The conference is expected to come up with a plan to prevent HIV/AIDS infection and serve HIV/AIDS victims.

Dr Sarad Raj Onta, coordinator of the conference organising committee, said the NCASC estimated about 70,000 HIV-positive cases in the country, with the most affected being men aged between 15 and 49. The vulnerable groups include intravenous drug users, commercial sex workers and their clients, homosexuals, migrant labourers from abroad and their spouses living in Nepal, he said.

NCASC director Padam B Chand said some 1,000 persons representing line agencies, INGOs, groups at high risk, policy makers, representatives of donor agencies, scholars, students and mediapersons will take part in the conference.