HIV AIDS and STD control
National HIV Strategic Plan 2016-2021 which has stressed on a need to address HIV programming achieving 90-90-90 target and elimination of vertical transmission of HIV, eliminate congenital syphilis. Where the global fund investment is in reaching the key population and improving treatment coverage and improve quality of care, a mangement and provision of elimination of vertical transmission, strengthen TB/HIV collaboration and build resilient and sustainable systems. The key intervention is in case finding and case management through health system strengthening, addressing HR related barriers and improving community capacity.
Following are the key activities in HIV programs:
- The opioid substitution therapy program is been run by 7 NGOs and 8 Government sites and altogether there are 26 existing sites.
- MSM, TG program is been conducted in 20 GF program districts and 5 linkage districts.
- Anti-retroviral treatment sites are been established in 75 sites in all 7 provinces.
- There is only one site currently existing for HIV viral load testing sites, 2 sites are in process for the establishment of HIV viral load testing and 2 sites are been piloted for HIV viral load testing through GeneXpert.
The distribution of 29,878 people Living with HIV 2017 (15 years and above) shows the following statistics: low risk males (including migrants)- 36%, low risk female- 39%, MSM and transgender people in Kathmandu- 6.2%, People Who use Injectable Drugs in Kathmandu (PWID)- 8.5%, PWID in Pokhara- 4.9%, FSW at Kathmandu- 2.2%, Female sex workers in terai- 0.9% which shows that HIV epidemic is driven by key populations.
According to the trends of new HIV infections and Deaths 1985-2020, prevalence of HIV and AIDS in Nepal has shown a decreased trend throughout the years. As discussed about the gaps in achieving the 90-90-90 status, there is 18% gaps in PLHIV who know their HIV status,24 PLHIV have not received treatment and 48% are not found to have their viral load suppressed according to Global AIDS Monitoring Reporting 2018.
With the increase in ART, there has been 63% change in people on ART since 2014. 62% testing coverage has been achieved against annual expected pregnancies. 99% of CABA received services are linked to ART.
