Global Goals Ain't Easy

Kalpana BK, from Nuwakot, Nepal district didn’t know that her husband had AIDS, when her husband, migrant worker returned back from Golf countries.

He had intercourse with Kalpana, and virus got transmitted to her as well. Despite of trying various jhakris, her husband was not cured. She ended up being a widow with gift from her husband, ‘daughter with HIV’. Society was so conservative, that they protested during her husband’s death ritual assuming the virus would get transferred through smoke, when his body was burnt.

HIV AIDS was first reported in South Asia back in early 80's. During late 90s, the cases of HIV was highly notable and in peak, however the rate has been lowering at the present. One important consequence of ICPD was noticed when course academics of school level education included lessons on HIV and AIDS, Safe Sex, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, prevention mechanisms and what it actually is. Besides these south Asian countries are not  failing to show it’s solidarity towards any international commitments be it ‘’2011 UN Political Declaration on HIV AIDS: Intensifying efforts to eliminate HIV AIDS” or at “International Conference for Population and Development (ICPD)”. All of them have shown solidarity on Global Goals as well showing commitment to end HIV AIDS by 2030.

However, only nominal efforts are carried out from Government side for this regard. Firstly the situation is because of the political instability, that almost all South Asian countries are going through. Nepal had been into war stage for ten years, and next ten years, politically instable, Bangladesh is already loaded with problem of unemployment and high population. India has similar issue, and though have enough  budget, but these aspect seems to be less concerned. Sri Lanka just recovered from the conflict region. Similar is the case with Afghanistan. Pakistan recently banned promotion of contraceptives in advertisement. Maldives and Bhutan do have enough time and budget, but this issue seems to be ignored. Despite, Government’s low focus, there has been lot of foreign aids, who has been sponsoring various NGOs herefor addressing issues relating to HIV AIDS. This should be regarded as one reason, why number of HIV AIDS victim, has been decreasing annually, with increasing awareness among mindset of people.

Manju Chand, 10 years old female student, whose parents were dead while she was a kid, studying at her primary level was taken out from her school, after school administration knew that the child was HIV infected. After knowing that she had HIV, other children even her relatives hated her. School administration feared if other parents would know the fact, they would shift their children to next school, and that could result in loss of the school. Her two elder sister nevered bothered to take concern of her, or meet her.

‘My father used to work at New Delhi, he came back with HIV. He transferred it to my mother, and I was within womb of my mother. So I got transferred.’ Urmila Aryal had similar story. She used to lie about her medicine during her school. Once, when the school administration knew about her, principal made her leave the school². There are similar cases that could be seen for adults as well. An adult with HIV needs to hear lot of curse from society, he/she must tolerate entire words that people start using for them. He/She must learn to tolerate and accept ignorance of the society. They cannot walk with their heads high in the society.

Different report states that eighty percent of HIV AIDS victims experienced atleast one feeling of self stigma, be it, shame, guilt, blame to others, low self esteem, suicidal thoughts, or willingness to be punished³.

However, there are various efforts made by various Social Workers, volunteers who started working for HIV victims. Urmila and Manju currently stay in school for HIV children. There are handful of schools operated only for HIV infected children. There are various NGOs/INGOs who are working for HIV and AIDS. They are making the society aware about what it actually is, how to remove stigma from the society, how to treat people with HIV, how to stay safe from HIV and various issues relating to it. Recently introduced sustainable goals have included the target of reducing HIV from world by 2030. This certainly is great goal set by United Nations, and effective work out can contribute a lot.

South Asian nations has made large progress upon Millennium Development Goals too, and the equal credit must be granted to various NGOs and INGOs working in South Asia. There exists female sex workers contaminated with HIV virus, however the majority HIV infections can be observed from those immigrant workers who work in India or Golf countries. Because of their unsafe sexual relations abroad, even their wife gets victim of the virus. There has been various promotional campaigns, be that at airport, bus stand or in borders trying to make people aware about HIV. However, not unless individual starts working, things can get better.

However, it has to be understood that raising up this issue only during the month of December, making 1st December focus, will certainly not work for the betterment. There has to be every single day with a brand new reason for South Asian Countries to show its concern towards HIV and AIDS. Only then the pre designed fast track can be taken down, and followed to achieve zero AIDS by 2030.

Have a safe sex!

 Published in The Rising Nepal's Friday Supplement of 31st December 2016