Kathmandu, May 13, 2018: ‘We’ for change, a youth led NGO based in Kathmandu has initiated a free HIV testing bus in the country. The aim of the free HIV testing bus service is to make the youth aware about their status on HIV/AIDS.
The campaign involves the bus travel through the districts in the southern plains and run camps for identification of the HIV/AIDS status of the people living there. They aim to cover Sindhuli, Saptari, Sarlahi, Udayapur, Bara, Kapilvastu, Kanchanpur, Surkhet, Rautahat, Surkhet and Bardiya.
The first phase of the campaign was initiated in February with the free camp in Sindhuli where a total of 589 blood samples were investigated for the HIV virus. Since then, free HIV testing camps have been conducted in Districts including Udayapur and Kavilbastu. The campaign is moving further west, soon. Till date, a total of 12 people have been found to have been HIV positive, states a press release by the campaigners at the NGO.
The drive also included awareness activities and regarding HIV/AIDS, its consequences and ways to prevent it through the medium of ‘Testing song’ prepared exclusively for the campaign.
‘We’ for Change has expressed its commitment to work with youth and expand the program in order to benefit as many people as possible.
The free HIV testing bus is going to be on the road organizing camps and creating awareness and testing to see if people are free from the virus or suffering from it.
The campaign is being carried on with the support of National Center for AIDS and STDs Control (NCASC) and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and in collaboration with National Association of PLHIV in Nepal (NAP+N).
