799 HIV infected taking ART

Kathmandu – A total of 799 people infected with HIV/AIDS are taking regular Anti-retroviral Treatment in the district. The district has reported 994 people living with HIV/AIDS but only 799 are taking regular ART service. However, the number of infected is on the decline since the past few years in Doti, according to the District Health Office.

Majority of the infected are those returning from work in India, and their spouses. In the fiscal year 2073/74, 40 new infections were reported while the number went down to 35 in F/Y 2074/75 and to 29 in 2075/76, according to the Office chief Ramesh Malasi. Doti is the third highest district in the far-west in terms of number of infected. Kailali and Accham are first and second respectively. In Doti, so far 172 people have died of HIV/AIDS.