At least 27 people in Baitadi died of Aids-related illnesses in the past six years, according to the District Health Office (DHO). Eight of the deceased were female. The DHO said 158 HIV cases have been reported in Baitadi so far. It is said that there are many HIV infected people in the district who have not come out. Lokendra Panta, the HIV/Aids programme coordinator of Multi-purpose Development Society (MDS), a social organisation, said many HIV patients have not revealed their condition because they fear that they would be ostracised by their community.

Some of them do not even take the anti-retroviral drugs fearing exposure, he added.  

 The MDS has been providing Rs 1,000 each to the HIV infected children below 18 years every month while also offering treatment service in partnership with Baitadi Plus, an organisation working with the HIV-infected people in the district.