BANIYANI: The number of HIV/AIDS infected has been gradually going down in the recent years in Jhapa district. In the year 2016/17, the number of HIV infected was 16 in the district while this number was more than double (43) in 2015/16.

According to the Jhapa District Public Health Office's (DPHO) programme officer, Kul Bahadur Poudel, in the year 2016/17, 3099 men and 1,105 women underwent blood test and among them eight men and the equal number of women tested positive. Likewise, one infected died in the period.

However, the number of HIV-infected was counted at 67 in 2014/15, 12 more than the previous year (2013/14). In the past four years (from 2013/14-2017), a total of 184 HIV infected — 103 men and 81 women — have been detected in the district. In this period of four years, four women and six men succumbed.

Presently, there are 461 HIV — 255 men and 206 women — infected in the district, according to programme officer Paudel. Among them, 457 are under the course of antiretroviral therapy (ART). HIV test is free in all the district-based health facilities where the maternity services are available.

Others various organisations such as Diamond Society, Sahara Nepal, Amda Nepal, Laba Kusha Assam, Night Chess Club and the DPHO Jhapa are operating awareness programmes about HIV in the district.

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