Her husband, who worked in India for a long time, brought the disease home and transmitted it to her and the children. She resorted to working as laborer but the paltry earnings could not support the family forcing her to attempt suicide. Many women in the district are facing similar problems. [break]
Government records show there are 86 HIV infected persons in the district with 47 taking antiretrovirals (ARV). Statistics and information officer at the district health office Bir Bahadur Rawal said most of the infected persons in Dadeldhura are women.
There are around 20 HIV infected widows in the district whereas the Jogbudha-9 alone has nine. “The HIV infected widows are living a miserable life and face difficulty in even making ends meet,” said local Nepali Congress leader Dhan Bahadur Saud.
Program coordinator of Multipurpose Development Society Ganesh Bhatta said 40 percent of the men who work in India are HIV positive and the actual number of infected persons can be much higher as the people in the farwestern region have only recently been seeking HIV tests.
HIV infected women are also having difficult time in Kailali, Kanchanpur, Doti, Achham and Baitadi districts in the region. According to government data, more than Rs 250 million has been spent for HIV infected in Dadeldhura district alone but the victims have still been living in misery.
Deepak Raj Bohara, general secretary of NGO Federation said the organizations working in AIDS control have been spending money on trainings and seminars while the victims continue to suffer.
Related story
HIV AIDS infection reduced by 40%: UNAIDS
