The number of HIV infected persons has been increasing in Palpa for the past few years. According to the latest count of the District Public Health Office, there are 243 persons living with HIV in Palpa. There were only 83 known HIV infected persons  a year before.

Pratibadha Sahayog Samuha, an organisation that offers assistance to the HIV infected persons in the district, claimed that 265 HIV infected persons were discovered last month alone. The DPHO claims that most of the persons with HIV in the district had been living with the condition for long.

Lilaraj Bhattarai of Sakriya Sewa Samaj, which works for the persons living with HIV, said more HIV infected persons are coming out due to increased level of awareness in recent times.

“Discrimination against HIV infected persons in the district is not so severe these days. And we also offer much better care to the persons living with HIV,” Bhattarai said.

Madhav Gyawali, information officer at the DPHO, said they still have a long way to go to better the condition of HIV infected persons and to contain the spread of the virus.

“The number of HIV infected children is increasing as the virus is being transmitted from their parents,” Gyawali said. Laxmi Kunwar, one of the HIV infected persons in the district, claimed the DPHO is not working effectively. Though the DPHO is working in the field of HIV/Aids by forming Aids Coordinating Committee, Kunwar said the programmes are not fruitful. Sixty-five persons have died of HIV/Aids in the district till date.