"My husband died of HIV/AIDS, and I am also infected with the disease," she said. As an HIV positive patient, she felt hesitant to places where relief were being distributed due to social stigma.
She said, "I could not collect relief materials due to discrimination and humiliation toward the HIV infected prevalent in the village."Many HIV patients, facing similar situation like her, had remained deprived of immediate relief support, while other quake victims in their own community had already received the materials following the earthquake.
Sakriya Plus, an organization founded by HIV patients themselves, has extended helping hand to affected quake-affected HIV/AIDS patients awaiting relief support.
Following the disaster, they were left in the lurch, but the organization has come forward to attend to their needs.
A total of 78 men and 50 women with HIV positive are taking antiretroviral medicine provided by Sakriya Plus on a regular basis, according to treasuer Kamal Prasad Banjara.
He further said that HIV/AIDS patients are among the worst sufferers in lack of proper diet and poor living conditions follwoing the earthquake.
"We are doing our best to provide special care to HIV/AIDS patients," said Banjara.
On Tuesday, Sakriya Plus has provided relief materials to 30 HIV positive patients, who were in dire need of relief support, according to him.
Different organizations, including 4-H Nepal, Rehabilitated Bhutanese Society of Australia, Association of Youth Organizations Network (AYON) and National Youth Federation Nepal (NYFN) of Kavre, had arranged relief materials that consisted of tarpaulins, mat, blanket, mosquito net, edible oil, salt and soap, among others.
Meanwhile, president of 4-H Nepal, Lokraj Awasthi, told Republica that distribution of relief materials in almost all the places were done without considering the needs of the HIV patients. "Realizing their dire need, we provided relief support to them," he said. "Now we are working to rehabilitate them and ensure the livelihood of their families in joint coordination with those organizations."
A total of 299 people with HIV positive have been diagnosed in Kavre district so far, as per Sakriya Plus Nepal.
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