Nepal's Battle Against HIV
In 2010, I embarked on a poignant journey across Nepal to document the profound impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis, particularly in remote areas such as Achham. At Achham District Hospital, Nurse Surja Kunwar highlighted that the migration of men to India was a primary factor driving HIV prevalence, exacerbated by a lack of awareness about safe sex practices and challenges in negotiating safer behaviors within marital relationships. Surja estimates that 5,000 Achham residents are HIV-positive. Approximately 64,000 people are estimated to be living with HIV in Nepal.
Despite Nepal's low overall HIV prevalence of 0.5%, high-risk groups such as seasonal migrant workers experienced a concentrated epidemic, with labor migrants alone accounting for 41% of all cases by 2008. Kalashi Vishwakarmas, pregnant with her fourth child, was the last to know that her husband of 10 years was HIV-positive. He worked in Mumbai, but she says she did not know what kind of job he had, and she never felt comfortable asking about his sexual activity abroad. In Achham, approximately 1,500 children were affected by HIV/AIDS, many of whom were orphaned.
My mission aimed to raise awareness and catalyze positive change in Nepal's approach to addressing HIV/AIDS, emphasizing the crucial role of specialized healthcare facilities and rehabilitation centers in providing essential care and support to those in remote and underserved regions like Achham.