HIV/AIDS Cases Highest in Parsa District, Madhesh Province

Janakpurdham. Among the eight districts of Madhesh Province, Parsa district has the highest number of HIV/AIDS infected patients. According to the Madhesh Province Health Directorate, there are 1,504 HIV/AIDS patients in Parsa alone.

According to the Directorate, a total of 4,680 HIV-infected patients are undergoing Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) treatment in Madhesh Province in the fiscal year 2081/82. Within the province, Dhanusha has 886, Sarlahi has 558, Siraha has 457, Rautahat has 422, Mahottari has 371, Bara has 288, and Saptari has 194 infected individuals.

According to Rajveer Yadav, HIV/AIDS Focal Person of the Directorate, 14,000 people were tested for HIV in Madhesh Province in the fiscal year 2076/77. This number has increased to 76,792 by the fiscal year 2081/82.

He informed that HIV infection was confirmed in 400 people in the fiscal year 2075/76, 475 in 2077/78, 675 in 2078/79, 606 in 2079/80, 510 in 2080/81, and 479 in 2081/82.

In the current fiscal year, HIV infection has been confirmed in 16 pregnant women. Health workers have stated that there is a risk of transmission from mother to child if testing and treatment are not done in time.

In Madhesh Province, 175 children under 18 years of age are infected with HIV. Among them, 47 are single parents and 20 are fully orphaned. Infected children are provided with a monthly cash assistance of Rs 1,000 for education, health, and nutrition.

Dr. Pramod Kumar Yadav, Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population, Madhesh Province, stated that controlling the infection has become challenging due to open borders, foreign employment, drug use, and unsafe sexual contact.

Currently, 10 government and one non-governmental ART centers are in operation in the province. HIV testing and counseling services, viral load testing, and early infant diagnosis services are available in all eight districts.

Navalkishor Jha, Public Health Officer of Sarlahi, stated that despite control efforts by government and non-governmental sectors, there has not been an expected improvement in solving the problem.