HIV/AIDS
Over the last years the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Nepal has been potentially increasing. The first case of HIV/AIDS was reported in 1988, and even tough the lack of proper public health surveillance makes it difficult to generate an actual number of infections in the country; estimates are that 70,000 people are currently living with HIV/AIDS. Among the most vulnerable groups to HIV/AIDS in Nepal are female sex workers, injecting drug users, children and migrants. The major risk factor for infection is the continued spread among injecting drug users. According to the United Nations, an estimated 6,557 injecting drug users are living with HIV or AIDS, which is about 10% percent of the total AIDS cases in Nepal. The burden of HIV among IDUs is especially heavy in the Kathmandu Valley. Similarly, there are between 25,000-34,000 female sex workers in Nepal with an estimated HIV prevalence of 1.3-1.6%. Due to their highly marginalized status, FSWs in Nepal have limited access to information about reproductive health and safe sex practices. A major challenge to HIV control is the trafficking of Nepalese girls and women into commercial sex work in India.
Sahara Projects:
