HIV, AIDS and health

Gender

Environment

HIV, AIDS and health

The impact of HIV & AIDS on social and economic development can be mitigated by improving people’s knowledge about HIV, AIDS and STI, and by increasing their access to prevention care and support services. LWF Nepal seeks to challenge ignorance, taboos and false beliefs that lead to the spread of diseases, and to encourage adoption of safer health practices. Peer educators, various religious leaders and government officials are involved in awareness campaigns. 2007 activity highlights
	Religious leaders taking training in HIV, AIDS and health issues
A network of peer educators (SAATHI) in the central region is actively leading a rights-based awareness campaign. As a result, people have started raising their voices against rights violation. Community members visit four information centres, which the peer educators have established, for information on preventive measures on health, HIV and AIDS.

Coordination with the local government agencies and like-minded organisations has been strengthened. Some of the activities were organized jointly and successfully. Stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV & AIDS have been reduced visibly. Now the communities have started to accept them; some of the People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) are living in harmony with the community.

This year there was good participation from the community people at all levels. Around 85 % of the community people between 10 to 49 years are aware of preventive methods of HIV, and health issues. Among them 69 women 7 men were able to seek health services in Nahuda women’s clinic and Patan Hospital. Likewise, 200 people were able to get health services from various sate-run health camps in Lalitpur district.

Through mobilization of 800 peer educators and their 30 networks, information about health, HIV and AIDS were disseminated in the community in the western region with the aim of changing their behaviour. In addition, voices of the affected and infected people, along with HIV and AIDS messages, were broadcast on regional radios. Because of this influential channel, people have become more aware of protection issues, and need for clinic visits. The communities are seeking health facilities from government structures as well.

In the eastern region, gender-sensitive HIV and AIDS programs are carried out through a pool of volunteers (SARATHI and SHOVA) who are mobilized to generate mass awareness. It is also working for the rights and welfare of PLWA, female sex workers, highway drivers and migrant workers. More than 3000 peer educators have been produced so far, and more than 6,000 persons have received peer education.

Nearly 5,000 people participated in various events across the country to mark International Condom Day and International AIDS Day in 2007. Street dramas were used as a tool for awareness-raising in many villages.

Regular sanitation campaigns and discussions on seasonal diseases helped change community behaviour and decreased the rate of infection. Household reports from LWF Nepal’s geographical working areas show that the percentages of females and males having knowledge of hygiene and sanitation are 92.4% and 95% respectively. The percentage of households with clean yards stands at 72.7, which shows that a reasonable number of households are hygiene-conscious.

A series of training events were organized to dissuade people from taking services from fake health practitioners. After receiving training in safe motherhood, 32% of women participants are visiting hospitals for pre-natal check-up and 26% are visiting for post-natal check-up. Sixty-five percent of the households, which are covered by LWF Nepal programmes, immunized all children up to the age of nine months.

Gender

Gender is one of the cross-cutting themes stressed in all the programs and projects of LWF Nepal. Gender balance is the main focus. Planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation are done on the basis of gender sensitivity. Institutional development is also viewed from the gender perspective. Equal participation of men and women are sought in groups, CBOs (community-based organisations) and their networks.

Since women in Nepal need special assistance and motivation to improve their socio-economic status, they are given top priority at all levels of LWF Nepal programmes.

People from various communities, with different backgrounds, are participating in CBOs. Be it in disaster risk reduction, sustainable livelihood, human rights advocacy, women are playing an important role. Women are taking leadership positions in CBOs and their federations through general assembly. In groups affiliated to LWF Nepal, more than 70% participation and leadership is from women. But the number of women at higher decision-making levels of CBOs/networks needs to be increased.

In 2007, 181 girls of disadvantaged communities in the western region received scholarships. Marginalized and disadvantaged groups have also gained access to various bodies formed by the community to plan and implement development initiatives that suit their need and interest.

Environment

Environment is another cross-cutting theme. Environmental issues are considered right from the planning stage of various interventions. Groups/CBO/CBO Networks are preparing plans on environmental improvement and carrying out sanitation campaigns at the community level. CBOs are generating awareness about safer and better environment.

Tree plantation is an important activity pursued by the community. With the help of a professional NGO, farmer field school, manure pits and improved seasonal and off-seasonal farming techniques were used in the agricultural sector. Use of harmful pesticides was discouraged. Methods of soil conservation were taught to the community in 2007.

Environment-friendly devices such as solar lamps have been installed in Bhutanese refugee camps in eastern Nepal. Following an environment impact assessment, the refugees are provided with briquettes for cooking food. They also plant trees in and around the camps to protect environment.

LWF Nepal opted for bio-engineering, instead of civil engineering, for river training. This has been proved as a successful technology for flood protection.