History of NAP+N (July'06 latest)_Anjan

This story is about a movement. A movement of people living with HIV in Nepal,Glimpses from personal files collected over a period of four long years, not of any particular chronological order but speaks of people living with HIV in Nepal.

Reliving the history of Reliving the history of empowerment of PLWHA in Nepal…empowerment of PLWHA in Nepal…

Faces and Voices of HIV epidemic Nepal,Faces and Voices of HIV epidemic Nepal, It is about Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS

Our message is simpleOur message is simple “I am healthy, I am “I am healthy, I am responsible, I am able to contribute, I responsible, I am able to contribute, I

love life, I care for others…”love life, I care for others…”

Strong leaders likeStrong leaders like Rajiv Kafle & Rajiv Kafle & Anjan AmatyaAnjan Amatya

carved a niche for carved a niche for the network in the the network in the

national AIDS national AIDS program, they has program, they has an inspiration to an inspiration to

many of usmany of us

31 people from 8 districts came together in 2003 @ 31 people from 8 districts came together in 2003 @ 11stst National Consultation of PLWHA in Nepal National Consultation of PLWHA in Nepal men and women living with HIV

Leaders likeLeaders like GopalGopal

stood tall against stood tall against all odds, still all odds, still smiling. His smiling. His

efforts bearing efforts bearing fruits in Nepalfruits in Nepal

Visionaries Visionaries like Naresh & AnandNaresh & Anandlaid strong foundation in East to West and carried

the vision across boundaries

Our priority is Our priority is “to strengthen this movement”“to strengthen this movement”

We concentrated onWe concentrated on “forming and strengthening “forming and strengthening district level support district level support

groupsgroups for local response in first year” for local response in first year”

We realised that our voice could be strengthened only ifWe realised that our voice could be strengthened only if “we work at the regional and district levels”“we work at the regional and district levels”

Today we are over 300 members fromToday we are over 300 members from 5 5 regions and 13 districts in Nepal regions and 13 districts in Nepal

organized as a movementorganized as a movement

To represent all the communities To represent all the communities “we created working groups for “we created working groups for

advising us on issues of particular advising us on issues of particular group”group”

Women & Children

MSM

Drug Users

Trafficking WomenSex Workers

““Initially it was difficult to be Initially it was difficult to be

open about one’s HIV open about one’s HIV status, status, most of us were most of us were

very scaredvery scared””

““we could only talk about our status only to a Doctor, all we could only talk about our status only to a Doctor, all because because we thought having HIV was only about we thought having HIV was only about

sickness and death”sickness and death”

Barriers were Barriers were plenty plenty

“but we were “but we were prepared to go to prepared to go to any extend until any extend until

we succeed”we succeed”

““I could laugh with others and I could laugh with others and I felt I have I felt I have a life after HIVa life after HIV

Together Together we withstandwe withstand stormy stormy winds winds

• Improve access to treatment Improve access to treatment • Access to informationAccess to information• Protect the human rightsProtect the human rights• Promote Greater involvement of people living Promote Greater involvement of people living

with HIVwith HIV• Promote social acceptance and end Stigma and Promote social acceptance and end Stigma and

DiscriminationDiscrimination• Provide opportunities for networking for people Provide opportunities for networking for people

living with HIVliving with HIV

Objectives of NAP+NNAP+N

Our sincere thanksOur sincere thanks to all our well-wishers, supporters

USAIDFamily Health International (FHI)National Center for STD and AIDS Control (NCASC)UNAIDSUNDPVSOPOLICY ProjectFutures GroupILODFID

Together we make the strongest voice of Together we make the strongest voice of people living with HIV in NEPAL.people living with HIV in NEPAL.