Financial aid provided to HIV patients

GULMI: Satyawati Rural Municipality in Gulmi district has extended financial assistance to HIV-infected individuals facing challenges in accessing treatment due to economic hardship.

A total of 25 individuals living with HIV have received support to help them travel to ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) centers located in Tamghas, Palpa, and Butwal for regular check-ups and medication.

Many patients had previously struggled to reach these centers due to poor financial conditions, often resulting in missed treatments and disrupted healthcare routines.

According to Tika Ram Pandey, Chairperson of the rural municipality, the aid aims to ensure that no patient is deprived of essential treatment. “Our goal is to improve the living conditions and nutritional status of HIV-positive individuals by covering annual transportation costs to ART centers,” said Pandey.

The beneficiaries were identified based on data collected by the long-serving local NGO Hamro Jeevan Plus and individual applications submitted to the municipality.

The allocated funds are directly deposited into the patients’ bank accounts.

Himalal Bhandari, Head of the Health Section at the municipality, informed that although 36 HIV-positive individuals reside in the rural municipality, only 25 have received the support so far. “Some patients are hesitant to disclose their status or come forward, making it difficult to extend the assistance to everyone,” Bhandari explained.

Hamro Jeevan Plus is currently running a home and community-based care program that includes home visits, treatment monitoring, counseling, and referrals.

The organization’s chairperson, Juna Gyawali, stated that the program also provides monthly stipends of Rs 2,000 to HIV-positive children under 18 for educational and healthcare support.

As of now, 27 children are benefiting from the initiative.

Gyawali also expressed concern over the closure of the district’s community care center, which has adversely affected service delivery to many HIV patients.

According to current statistics, there are 312 HIV-infected individuals in the district.