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UNAIDS |
Call against HIV\AIDS Consensus is gradually evolving about the need to take initiatives to prevent the spread of HIV\AIDS By KESHAB POUDEL It was in the middle of the ceremony when a young man walked towards the dias terming the spread of HIV\AIDS as the propaganda by INGOs and donors. Followed by another woman calling her husband as faithful. Although it was a street drama presented at the function organized by the United Nations, it showed how safe the society as a whole is from the spread of HIV\AIDS. UN is celebrating its anniversary this year with the theme: Race Against Poverty: Breaking the Silence on HIV\AIDS. Presented by Arohan Samuha - a drama group, ten minutes long drama was able to attract the mass.
"There is a need for political commitment to reduce the threat to the society, more since health care system is weak and unaffordable," said Dr. Henning Karcher, resident representative of the United Nations. According to a study, Nepal has 34,000 HIV infected patients. The growth rate of the disease has been increasing annually from 2.7 to 17.3 percent in the last few years. "Nepal is ready to work with national and international organizations to control the HIV\AIDS epidemic," said Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala."The government is very much concerned with the spread of HIV." The wake-up calls from international agencies like the UN against the HIV have come at a time when large number of AIDS patients are dying in the remote parts of the country. As large number of Nepalese migrate to various parts of India in search of employment, the possibility of them getting infected there and come back to spread it here is very high. The situation in Achham district has already shown the alarming signs. "We have recorded 132 death cases by HIV\AIDS infection," said Krishna Prasad Jaise, president of District Development Committee Achham. The UN\AIDS estimates that the HIV\AIDS is going to be a leading cause of death of persons between the age of 10-15 if the situation is not controlled. "We are promoting the integrated approach to control the spread of HIV\AIDS," said Dr. Michael Hahn, country program adviser of UNAIDS. Although Nepal has been launching programs against HIV\AIDS for the last 12 years, it is yet to develop the integrated approach. "I find the response is quite satisfactory from the government. Prime Minister himself has expressed the desire to take major offensive against HIV\AIDS," said J. Bill Musoke, UNFPA representative to Nepal. A Tale Of Two ANFAs Nepal presently has two All Nepal Football Associations (ANFA). One captained by former national striker Ganesh Thapa and the other headed by Gita Rana. While the sports ministry and the National Sports Council recognize the Rana-ANFA, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) recognizes Thapa-ANFA. The meeting of FIFA held in October 26 in Zurich, Switzerland, has decided to give recognition to the ANFA headed by Ganesh Thapa. The decision was based on the report presented by its representative Manilal Fernando under whose supervision, the ANFA executive committee was elected with Thapa as its President. Likewise, the meeting of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) held in Beirut, Lebanon in 28 October also decided to recognize Thapa's ANFA. The decision by the supreme international football bodies has, however, put the government in a tight spot. The sports ministry and the National Sports Council have already declared that they would have nothing to do with Thapa's ANFA. Former national football players have already expressed solidarity with Thapa. Likewise, most sports analysts, too, believe that Thapa's contribution to Nepalese football should not be forgotten. "There can be no comparison between Thapa and Rana as far as Nepalese football is concerned. While one is the former captain of the national team, nobody knows the other. It is strange why the authorities preferred Rana over Thapa to head the ANFA," said Sudarshan Napit, an avid football fan. As things stand, Nepal now has two ANFA -- one that is recognized nationally (by the government) and the other that is recognized internationally. |
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