AEGiS-15IAC: Treatment, care and support for prevention - A model projects amongst injecting drug users (IDUs) in Nepal.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Treatment, care and support for prevention - A model projects amongst injecting drug users (IDUs) in Nepal.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. B10094)

Shah S, Rana BJ, Rana PS, Kafle S, Shrestha PK
Nava Kiran Plus, Kathmandu, Nepal

ISSUES: Nepal has one of the fastest growing rate of HIV infection in South Asia. With an estimated 60 000 person living with HIV/AIDS the epidemic is concentrated in IDUs which has a staggering HIV prevalence rate of 68% in the capital and more than 40% in general. Lack of immediate targeted intervention may result in irreparable loss to the social and economic structure of the whole nation. Lack of persistent harm reduction services and treatment options leaves drug users with no other choice than to continue practicing unsafe behaviors which is further fuelled by lack of supportive legal and policy framework.

DESCRIPTION: Nava Kiran Plus( NKP) is a community based NGO run by PLWHAs. NKP has a drug rehabilitation center that provides free treatment/ detox to IDUs who are living with HIV. They are then put in a follow up program focusing on reducing relapse with continuous support and care programs such as skills building. Lesson learned: IDUs living with HIV are more vulnerable to opportunistic infection which can be prevented thru care and support interventions. Prevention and management of OIs significantly prolongs lives of the individual. Rehabilitation centers for drug users can be developed into centers of excellence to provide Treatment, Care and Support services for PLWHAs with an active involvement of PLWHAs thus providing them with an opportunity to engage in the response to the epidemic. Recommendation: We believe that treatment, care and support intervention not only improves the quality of lives of infected and affected individuals but can significantly reduce the parallel and cross infections within the IDU community and also their families at large. Rehabilitation and support programs can prevent HIV infection significantly in countries with concentrated epidemic such as Nepal.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Substance-Related Disorders, Prevalence, HIV Seropositivity, Disease Outbreaks, Behavior, Nepal, Asia, prevention & control, therapy, economics, organization & administration

040711
B10094