National 7 (Spotlight Weekly)

A New Experiment

Samjhauta Nepal, an NGO, successfully launches a program in the Bara district to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS

By A CORESSPONDENT

Despite its ramification effects at the local level, only a few people cared about HIV/AIDS in Bara district, 200 kilometer south of Kathmandu bordering India until a year ago, but the situation has changed now.

Linked to the Kathmandu by bus in the north and open border with India in the South, villages north of Chure hills are vulnerable to infections by HIV/AIDS.

Thanks to the program initiated by Samjhauta Nepal with support from the World Bank and Pact Nepal, the awareness level against HIV/AIDS has increased in Bara district.

Program participants : Enriched by knowledge

After completing a project Combating HIV/AIDS: A Literacy and "Economic Approach", local people have understood many things. The level of understanding of the threat of HIV/AIDS in the daily lives of women and the social dynamics in stemming its spread and demystifying myths surrounding AIDS have increased," said Usha Jha, chief executive officer Samjhauta Nepal. One of the aims of the project was to educate women on how they can protect themselves, their partners and children from HIV/AIDS."

Funded by World Bank Development Marketplace, the program was conducted in the Amlekhagung, Dumarwana, Jeetpur, Simara, Rauahi, Pipradhi, Telkuwa, Nijgadh and Kalaiya Municipality of Bara district with support of six local NGOs.

"The program has shown that raising awareness among the local community particularly women is one of the ways to effectively combat against the spread of HIV/AIDS," said Deborah Batman, country coordinator of the World Bank.

In a result dissemination and Success Sharing Workshop, various speakers pointed out the need to implement effective programs at the grass root level to reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS epidemic. Although there are many risk factors to increase the number of HIV infection in Bara district, only a few people realized them before the implementation of programs.

From highly risk villages like Amlekhagunj, adjoining to east west high way with a large number of population of transport workers including drivers and helpers, to southern villages bordering India, the program was implemented to find out the real situation.

"The project has contributed significantly to increase knowledge among target women combating STDs and HIV/AIDs Proportion of women knowing correct definition of STI, means of its transmission and the symptoms increased from 23 percent to 93 percent, 43 to 95 and 43 to 96 percent respectively," said Dr. Giridhadhari Paudel in the project evaluation. Women have begun to dialogue with their sex partner regarding safer sex after studying the educational materials provided by Samjhauta Nepal.

Local people, too, agree that the people of all generation are now open to talk about the sex related problems. "The implementation of the programs has really changed the behavior of the local people and helps to increase the level of sexual education among the local residents," said Himalaya Simkhada of Bara. "Sex was taboo and no body talked about STD and STI but now people can share the information about them."

As Nepal is turning from a low prevalence country to high prevalence, there requires many grass root level programs." The World Bank is happy to see the changes that occurred in Bara districts. Raising awareness against the HIV/AIDS is effective way to combat it," said Dr. Tirtha Rana, Senior Health Specialist at the World Bank.

"From adolescent to old, the awareness level regarding the reproductive health, STI/STD and HIV/AIDS has increased," said Rammaya, a resident Dumbarbana. "After the implementation of project, the sales of condoms and other family planning methods increased."

The evaluation report shows that the service seeking behavior of women on their reproductive health problems has increased. About 14 percent of the women had STI problems. Of the total known STI patients, 90 percent went for treatment by the mid term of the project, 100 percent at the conclusion of the project.

Although this is a short-term project, the experiences have shown that it can bring change in the behavior of the people and understanding about the HIV/AIDS.