Kathmandu, July 3:

Six people have died of AIDS in Nepal in the month of Jestha (May 14-June 14), a government report states.

The Cumulative HIV/AIDS Situation report on Nepal published by the National Centre for AIDS and STD Control has revealed that a total of 334 new HIV-positive cases were reported throughout the month. Among them, 98 were AIDS cases.

With this, the total number of HIV-positive cases in the country stands at 11,835 of which 1,884 have developed AIDS.

Data reveal that 145 clients of sex workers, 112 housewives and 33 intraveinous drug users were diagnosed HIV-positive during the month. The figures shows that increasing number of youths are being infected with HIV. The data shows that 142 persons in the age group of 30-39 years, 69 among 25-29-year-olds, 47 in 40-49-year group and 27 under the age of 19 years were infected with HIV this month. The government data was revealed on the eve of the third National AIDS Conference set to start in the capital from tomorrow.

AIDS meet:

KATHMANDU: The third national AIDS conference with the slogan ‘Towards Universal Access’ will begin in Kathmandu on Friday. According to director of National Centre for AIDS and STD Control Dr Padam B Chand, around 1,000 people representing donor agencies, HIV-positive people, policy makers, scholars, students and media would participate in the conference. — HNS