HIV/AIDS hotline in Nepal

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The Himalayan Times Online
Printed from www.thehimalayantimes.com

Hotline On HIV Info Launched

Kathmandu, July 5:



The National Hotline Service on HIV/AIDS and National Information Resource Centre for HIV/AIDS were launched on Tuesday with a view to providing free service to people seeking information on HIV/AIDS, its care, treatment and support.

Launching the services, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population, Amik Sherchan, said the government is seriously considering inclusion of chapters on HIV/AIDS in the school curricula.

The National Centre for AIDS and STD Control (NCASC) established and set up the hotline with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Fund for Population Activities and the Global Plus Private limited.

"HIV/AIDS has become a big challenge in Southeast Asia, and the government is committed to collecting exact data on people living with HIV/AIDS," said Sherchan.

According to NCASC, all queries and identity of callers would be kept confidential and that they would be given correct information on HIV/AIDS, its care, treatment and support.

"This service is expected to help people in providing free access to resources, as a result people will come out with their problems and receive crucial information to help bridge the huge information gap that we see at this point of time," said Dr Shyam Sunder Mishra, director of NSASC.

According to the WHO, an estimated 62,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS with housewives mostly affected in Nepal. The hotline toll-free number is 1660-01-33-000.