Stigma persists for HIV-infected individuals, forcing many to seek treatment away from home
Tikapur: HIV-infected individuals continue to face social stigma, leading many to seek medical treatment far from their communities to maintain confidentiality.
Patients report that due to discrimination and lack of respect in society, they prefer to visit distant ART centers rather than those near their homes. A 71-year-old woman from Lamkichuha regularly travels to Tikapur Hospital for her medication, despite the presence of an ART center at Lamkichuha Hospital. She said she avoids local treatment facilities to prevent her identity from being disclosed. “My husband died due to HIV, I told him no,” she said. “If others find out, society would not even care, so I come to Tikapur Hospital saying I am visiting relatives.”
A total of 162 HIV-infected patients from Lamkichuha Municipality alone are receiving treatment at Tikapur Hospital. Overall, 531 patients are currently receiving services from the ART center at the hospital, including 207 men, 304 women, 11 gender minorities, and nine children. This number stood at 900 last year, but has declined following the establishment of ART centers in other municipalities, allowing some patients to access services closer to home.
Patients from nine municipalities in Kailali, Bardiya, and Surkhet districts receive treatment at the center. Among them, 139 are from Tikapur, while the remaining patients come from other municipalities. According to AIDS Health Care Foundation Nepal (AHF Nepal), which operates at the hospital, many patients continue to seek treatment discreetly due to ongoing social stigma.
Among those receiving services at Tikapur Hospital, many travel from other municipalities to avoid identification, while some patients from Tikapur seek treatment in places such as Dhangadhi and Lamkichuha for the same reason.
The ART center operated by AHF Nepal at Tikapur Hospital has been functioning since 2012. The organization provides support in HIV/AIDS diagnosis, treatment, and care, said AHF Nepal Councilor Min Bahadur Bohara. “In the current fiscal year, we have supported 835 individuals with transportation costs for treatment, provided nutritional support to 316 patients, assisted 201 individuals in purchasing medicines not covered by health insurance, and helped 12 patients with emergency treatment,” he said.
The organization also supports patients in obtaining health insurance, monitors medication adherence, and facilitates regular viral load testing. According to Bohara, patients receiving services include 139 from Tikapur, 81 from Janaki, 162 from Lamkichuha, 52 from Bardagoriya, 33 from Joshipur, 18 from Bhajani, 18 from Ghodaghodi, 44 from Mohanyal, one from Dhangadhi, nine from Bardiya, and one from Surkhet.
ART services are currently available at four health institutions in Kailali: Seti Hospital, Tikapur Hospital, Lamki Chuha Hospital, and Malakheti Hospital. However, HIV-infected individuals continue to face challenges related to nutrition and stable income. Some patients reported relief after municipalities such as Tikapur and Lamki Chuha introduced nutritional support programs.
A 68-year-old woman from Mohanyal Rural Municipality shared that she struggles to survive after her husband’s death, with no land or steady income. “I only have to worry about feeding myself. My only daughter is married and lives elsewhere,” she said. “There is no one to take care of me, and the government allowance is not enough. Monthly nutritional support would have helped.”
Taranath Paneru, head of the Tikapur Area Administration Office, said the ART center is playing an important role in ensuring treatment and rights for HIV-infected individuals. “There is still a need to identify patients within communities and ensure they receive treatment,” he said. “Coordination and support from local governments, organizations, and stakeholders are essential to address these challenges.”