27th World AIDS Day 2014, December 1, 2014

“Getting to Zero: Zero New HIV Infections, Zero

discrimination, Zero AIDS-related deaths"

Since 1988, the global community has been commemorating December 1st as World AIDS Day

(WAD). This special day gives an opportunity for all to pay tribute to all infected and affected by

HIV and AIDS and also a moment for us all to reflect on the successes made and garner support

to overcome the gaps and challenges. This year marks the 27th WAD and was commemorated

under the 2011-15 global theme of “Getting to Zero: Zero New HIV Infections. Zero discrimination,

Zero AIDS-related deaths”. UNAIDS also introduced a sub-theme of “Closing the Gap” for this year

urging all to work towards achieving the Getting to Zero target.

The Government of Nepal, through the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), National Center

for AIDS and STD Control (NCASC), coordinated the national and local commemoration of WAD

in the country. The main national program was organized in the Capital city Kathmandu at the

historic Basantapur Square with the Minister of Health and Population Honorable Mr. Khaga Raj

Adhikary as chief guest and Constituent Assembly Member Honorable Mr. Nabindra Raj Joshi as

special guest. The program was chaired by Dr Bimal Dhakal, Acting Secretary, MoHP and

prominent personalities in the dais Dr Senendra Raj Upreti, Director General, Department of

Health Services (DoHS); Dr Dipendra Raman Singh, Director, NCASC; Mr. Daniel Sinclair, Deputy

Director, Office of Health and Family Planning, USAID Nepal; and Dr Frank Paulin, Public Health

Administrator, World Health Organization (WHO), Country Office, Nepal, were the main guests of

the program. Likewise, representatives of National Networks of Key Affected Populations (KAPs)

and People Living with HIV (PLHIV) as well as civil society organizations also participated as

guests.

The program was inaugurated

by the Chief Guest and all

dignitaries by flying pigeons.

The Director, NCASC welcomed

all the participants and

highlighted on the importance of

solidarity among all the partners

for the celebration of WAD 2014.

The representatives form

National Networks of PLHIV and

KAPs as well as civil society

organizations expressed their

challenges and called for support from communities. Deputy Director, USAID Nepal lauded GoN’s

progress and achievements in moving towards an AIDS-free generation and expressed that GoN

and USAID Nepal has been able to achieve praiseworthy results despite resource constraints. In

addition, he shared that USAID Nepal has been supporting the GoN for over two decades now.

As highlight of the program,

Honorable Minister received HIV

counseling and testing from the free

HIV counseling and testing services

provided during the program. In his

remarks, Honorable Minister

emphasized on the progress that

Nepal has made in minimizing new

HIV infections in the country and

stressed that Nepal will strive

towards achieving Zero New

Infections. Furthermore, he called the external development partners (EDPs), I/NGOs and

community based organizations (CBOs) to join hands for AIDS free Nepal. The formal program

ended with closing remarks from the chair of the main event, Acting Secretary, MoHP.

The national program was planned as an informative and entertaining event with multiple

information dissemination stalls managed by stakeholders, free HIV testing and counseling, blood

donation camp, musical performances including Lok Dohari (Duet Folk Song) songs carrying

messages of HIV prevention and stigma and discrimination, street drama, bike stunt show and

documentary screening. The national program saw attendance of thousands of individuals from

all walks of life.

As done each year, USAID-funded

Saath-Saath Project (SSP) directly

worked under the leadership of

NCASC to plan the WAD 2014 events

at both the national level and in its

33 project districts. SSP was part of

the events management, technical

and publicity sub-committees that

assisted with planning the entire

WAD program and information,

education and communication (IEC)

materials to be distributed. SSP also

set-up a model HIV counseling and

testing centre at the national program and coordinated with its local NGO partners to organize

similar informative and educational programs in all project districts. SSP NGO partners actively

participated in the program and displayed and disseminated information about their program

and activities to the visitors. HIV, STIs and condoms-related IEC materials as well as condoms

were distributed during the program in Kathmandu.

The WAD 2014 was

commemorated throughout 33

SSP districts in collaboration with

District Public Health Offices

(DPHO), District AIDS

Coordination Committee (DACC),

local hospitals, health posts,

Nepal Police and various

government and non-government

organizations in respective

districts. The WAD 2014 activities

at the district level included red

ribbon campaign, rallies, street

dramas, open quiz competitions, IEC stalls in public places, showing of video and documentary

related to HIV and AIDS, distribution of IEC materials and condoms, interaction programs with

local mothers’ group, female community health volunteers and local medias, and candle light

memorial. Chitwan and Kavre districts organized free HIV counseling and testing camp. Moreover

clothes were distributed to children living with HIV in Chitwan district. A friendly football match

between PLHIV and local journalist was organized in Kailali district. Local journalist who

contributed in HIV and AIDS field were felicitated in Nuwakot.

Rally in Parsa

Glimpse of WAD 2014 Celebration in SSP Districts

Interaction program with local Mothers’ Group and Female Community Health

Volunteers, in Kailali district

IEC Stall in Dang

Interaction Program in Dang