National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nepal (NAP+N) is a non-political, non religious, non-governmental, not-for-profit, autonomous network of People Living with HIV/AIDS and as such, a platform for collaboration, cooperation, joint action and collective endeavor between PLHA and HIV/AIDS organizations in Nepal.
It was formally formed in March 2003 in response to emerging needs for PLHA to be given a voice. It is working towards a society in which PLHA can lead a fulfilling life with dignity. This will be achieved through empowerment of PLHA through building the capacity to access treatment, care, and promote a positive image of PLHA , reduce misconception associated with HIV/AIDS, increased involvement of PLHA in decision making process which ultimately affect their lives as well as promote and protect the rights of PLHA. NAP+N have four regional office and central secretariat in Kathmandu, membership of 53 PLHA organizations and around 7500 PLHA members. Vision: NAP+N envision a society in which PLHA can lead a fulfilling life with Dignity. Mission: To improve quality of life of people living with HIV and AIDS in Nepal by empowering PLHA and to build the capacity to promote rights, access treatment, care, and a positive image of PLHA thus reducing misconception associated with HIV and AIDS.
Goal:
- To improve the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS in Nepal.
Strategic objectives of NAP+N are:
- To bring together nationwide spread PLHA and movement to foster cooperation, dialogue, network and collaboration to minimize the AIDS epidemic by increasing care to PLHA.
- To advocate, lobby and facilitate mainstream of PLHA and PLHA issues in the National Agenda.
- To increase meaningful involvement of PLHA in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Nepal.
- To organize capacity building programs training/ workshops/ study tours/exchange visits to identify, share and adopt best practices for network members/ organizations.
- To facilitate and improve access to treatment, care and support for PLHA.
- To serve as consulting and advisory body to the government agencies and relevant stakeholders regarding PLHA issues in Nepal.
NAP+N Background
The process of collectivization of PLHA started with the first meeting called by UNAIDS in the month of November 26, 2002. A workshop was then held in March 4, 2003 to further strengthen the group. This meeting was jointly organized by UNAIDS and UNDP Regional Program on HIV and Development in South and North Asia and the Indian Network for PLHA (INP+). A follow-up meeting to the workshop was held in the same month in this meeting a committee was formed. An interim secretariat was assigned for three months. After the formation of the Secretariat, the committee had its first meeting on March 22, 2003 with the goal to activate the national PLWHA network. During this meeting the name of the network was decided as “National Network of PLWHA in Nepal (NNP+N)”. The committee members felt the necessity to have an in-house/ residential workshop with participation among the members of the committee and other PLWHA from all over the country who were willing to be a part of the network and show solidarity for each other to fight against HIV/AIDS. The group would decipher and form the vision; mission statement, goals, objectives and potential activities/work plan for the network.
In 2003 NAP+N conducted the 1st PLHA national workshop through the support of UNAIDS for need assessment and developed a strategic plan in which 31 PLHA from 8 districts were present. Strong Leaders like Mr. Rajiv Kafle, Mr. Anjan Amatya, Late Mr. Sharan Chettri, Mr. Sunil Babu Pant and Mr. Rose Joshi craved a niche for the network and they were the inspirations to many PLHA here in Nepal. During this process NAP+N identified the strategic objectives to be:
- To facilitate and improve access to treatment for people living with HIV.
- To provide access to information to people living with HIV.
- To promote and protect the human rights of people living with HIV.
- To promote the involvement of people living with HIV at all levels of decision making.
- To promote social acceptance of people living with HIV and to end stigma and discrimination.
- To provide opportunities for networking for people living with HIV.
Since May 2004 FHI/Nepal has been providing financial and technical assistance to NAP+N.
As the national organization representing PLHA in Nepal, NAP+N has formal relationships with numerous of national and international agencies. NAP+N is a board member of the Asia Pacific Network of PLHA [APN+] and members of NAP+N represents in International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC). NAP+N is recognized as an organization that represents PLHA in Nepal and abroad.
Through the secretariat, and its member organizations/networks, NAP+N continue to collaborate with the local level PLHA, government and donors regarding the HIV response in Nepal. The status of this involvement varies but there is considerable capacity for increasing the level and importance of these connections given that the majority of these institutions are also a part of the regional and global network of PLHA organizations.
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