The Kathmandu Call
THE two-day South Asian conference on HIV/AIDS, which brought
together international luminaries to discuss the magnitude and consequences of the killer
disease in the region, concluded in Kathmandu the other day adopting the historic
Kathmandu Call. The regional resolve to fight HIV/AIDS calls for collective and resolute
efforts to prevent it before it gets to more epidemic proportions. This is an important
milestone in the regional fight against AIDS. Statistics and research indicate that the
killer disease is increasing its grip over the entire South Asian region, which is a
matter of grave concern. Experts have clearly warned that if the present trend continues
unabated, South Asia would soon overtake Africa's Sub-Saharan region, which is now the
most AIDS-affected region in the world. Against this background, it is very urgent to take
immediate and effective measures against HIV/AIDS in South Asia. Poor and young people are
most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, which is likely to bring about more devastating consequences
to human security and development. Statistics show that more than half of the new
infections occur among young people. This presents a very precarious scenario.
Absolute poverty, illiteracy and gender inequality have
further marginalised the already poor people who are more prone to HIV/AIDS. These
marginalised people constitute sex workers, drug users, migrant workers and refugees, who
have little or no knowledge of the causes of HIV/AIDS and the preventive methods that help
fight the spread of this dangerous disease. South Asia is the region that houses the
largest number of poor and illiterate people. As a result, South Asia could be the region
that will have the largest number of HIV/AIDS infected people, if immediate preventive
measures are not implemented. In the drive against HIV/AIDS, the first and foremost effort
should be directed towards attacking massive poverty, illiteracy and ignorance. In the
same way, equal opportunity for education, access to health, employment, information
relating to causes of AIDS and awareness for behavioral change could be other important
ways to combat HIV/AIDS. Nepal alone has approximately 60,000 HIV/AIDS infected cases.
Given the size of Nepal's population, this is also an alarming scenario. As India is the
country with the largest number of HIV/AIDS infected people in South Asia, Nepal is likely
to become more vulnerable to this disease because of the open border and free movement of
people between these two countries. It is, thus, very urgent to step up regional
initiatives to fight HIV/AIDS and protect the humanity in the true spirit of the Kathmandu
Call.
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