Call For Continuing Nutrition Aid To HIV Survivors

Tikapur, April 2: The HIV survivors of Tikapur, Kailali have demanded the local government to continue the nutrition aid.

Tikapur municipality has been providing Rs 6,000 per person to HIV survivors as nutrition support for the past six years.

The payment for nutrition has been made through bank account of the HIV survivor. As many as 115 people with HIV had received the support in Tikapur last year.

A budget of Rs 750,000 was earmarked for nutrition aid to HIV survivors last year. The budget for the support this year was reduced to Rs 300,000.

Chairperson of Nawajivan Ekata Samaj, Jagat Bhandari, who is active in the field of the rights of HIV survivors, demanded the government provide assistance as per the previous system despite shrinking budget size.

"The HIV survivors are physically weak and cannot work like other people", Bhandari said, adding, "A small amount provided by the local government will help them survive for one or two months. Such regular support should not be reduced".

The Nawajivan Ekata Samaj, established in 2064 BS, has been pitching the rights of HIV survivors, diagnostics, health treatment and counseling in Kailali.

The society provides Rs 1,500 monthly to 70 children below 18 years of age in Kailali district for nutrition and education. "We have been providing meagre support to the single women so that they do not face any problem in buying books for their education," Bhandari said.