KATHMANDU: The 36th World AIDS Day is being observed nationwide today, marked by various awareness programs aimed at fostering understanding and prevention.

This annual event, observed globally on December 1, is dedicated to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS. The theme for World AIDS Day 2023 is “Let Communities Lead,” emphasizing the crucial role communities play in the fight against the epidemic.

In honor of the day, the National Center for AIDS and STD Control, under the Ministry of Health and Population, is actively organizing programs to disseminate awareness messages across the country.

The statistics highlight the ongoing global impact of HIV/AIDS. Since the discovery of the first HIV infection case in 1981 until the end of 2022, a staggering 85.6 million people worldwide have been living with HIV/AIDS. Tragically, 40.4 million people have lost their lives due to the infection.

Alarming figures continue to emerge, with an estimated 3,600 people contracting HIV every day across the globe. In Nepal, the National Center for AIDS and STD Control estimates that 30,000 people were living with HIV by the end of 2022, with one person contracting the virus daily.

As the nation collectively acknowledges World AIDS Day, the focus remains on fostering community-led initiatives to combat the spread of HIV, emphasizing the importance of solidarity, awareness, and education in the ongoing fight against this global health challenge.

RSS