442 documented HIV positive people in Surkhet

SURKHET: A total of 274 HIV positive people are taking antiretroviral drugs, out of 442 documented HIV positive people including 31 children in Surkhet district, said the District Public Health Office.

As many as 34 patients are new infected taking the drugs, said information officer Basanta Man Shrestha at the District Public Health Office, Surkhet (DPHO), adding that 55 patients with HIV positive have died so far since 2008.

Of the total 411 HIV infected people who have come in contact so far, 221 are women, and the rest 190 are men, said Nabikaran Plus, an NGO working in HIV\Aids field.

Most people from those areas bordering with India go to India in particular for a job, have unprotected sex there, and return with HIV virus, which they spread to their spouses later, said Shrestha.

Unsafe sex, sharing needles and syringes with HIV infected, and breastfeeding from infected mothers among others are risk factors of contracting HIV virus, doctors said and added, however, those living with HIV\Aids can lead a normal life after taking medication in regular basis.

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