14th International AIDS Conference Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. D11129)

Poon A
Nepal

BACKGROUND: There is an estimated 50,000 IDU in Nepal with a population of 20 million. Since 14 people are getting infected everyday where 80% of them are IDUS. Because of limited re-habilitation centers only about 2 are in the rehab Centers. Every 1 out of 2 Ida's are HIV+ve therefore in one hand the number of HIV+ve, drug users are Increasing day by day and in other hand the chances of relapse is as well very high

METHODS:(peer support) However we are adopting the 12 steps program of Narcotic Anonymous( NA) has been introduced for last 4 years and more than 500 drug users with a majority of HIV Positive are clean as result of the 12 steps of N.A. Youth Vision is re-hab center since 1985. and it is working with the drug addictsand Hiv Positive .Most drug users come to the center are found HIV+ve and the center started a different approach to face this new challenge. The 12 steps of NA is mostly a spiritual program based in higher power of God. Having faith in the higher power they are not only able to kick their habit but also given hope for them to live rest of their lives clean and serene with the guidance of the higher power.

RESULTS: More and more HIV+ve people are not coming out publicly because of their social status. Mostly reputed families are also found positive. They are proud of their status and don't want to kick their bad habit too. It sounds quite difficult to reach such people. And very few people /organizations are spreading their hands to deal with Drug addicts with a remarkable program. But because of our social awareness attempts there is an increase in social acceptance for such people.

CONCLUSION: For a country like Nepal and working with the drug addicts and positive people is not a easy task. We need now both skill, knowledge and action to start fighting the hardest battleof our age .We have no medical facilities or ARV therapies available therefore the people of positive's only hope is their higher power.

020707
D11129

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