The number of people living with HIV infection has reached more than 32,000 in Nepal.

Information to this revelation was shared by an organisation named Suruwat during a press conference organized on the occasion of the International Condom Day here Sunday.

A representative of AIDS Health Care Foundation, Rabi Singh, said the number of people infected with HIV has reached 32,735 in Nepal. Among them, 23,000 were fully identified, while 10,000 are refraining to disclose their identity.

Of the identified ones, 85 per cent got the infection through sexual intercourse, added Singh, pointing out the need of awareness among youths about safe sex and use of condom for it.

On the occasion, Executive Director of Suruwat, Rajesh Didiya, informed that 13,000 people living HIV were receiving anti-retro viral from 67 ARV Centres across the country. Bhaktapur district alone has 1,100 HIV infected ones, he shared.

Meanwhile, Suruwati has decided to launch free HIV/AIDs test. It is to provide the free service from Bhaktapur Durbar Square coming Tuesday. Condoms would be distributed free of cost at the programme.

The test would be conducted with ultramodern machine.

It was also informed at the programme that more than 10,000 condoms are consumed every day in Bhaktapur.