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The government of Nepal recently
began a national campaign to prevent persons with HIV infection from
contracting TB by distributing isoniazid, an anti-tuberculosis drug, to
HIV-infected persons. The program began at the Western Regional Hospital, in
Pokhara. Praveen Mishra, the Ministry of Health secretary, stated that the
government initiated the campaign to fight TB infection among HIV-positive
persons because they are very vulnerable to TB, and there has been an increase
in such persons succumbing to TB. Mishra also explained that the campaign was
started simultaneously at other main hospitals in the country, including Bir
and Teku Hospitals in the capital and Seti Zonal Hospital.
Dr. Krishna Kumar Rai, Director of
the National Center for AIDS and STD Control, emphasized that the drug is very
effective in preventing TB in HIV patients and that it was prescribed by the World
Health Organization (WHO) as not only effective, but affordable. He warned that
the drug was only for HIV-infected person who have not developed TB, and not
for those who already have TB disease. Dr. Rai explained that the patients must
take 300 mg. of isoniazid every day for six months.
Rajendra Panta, director of the
National TB Center, stated that TB is one of the leading causes of death among
HIV-infected persons in Nepal, with a reported 5,000 to 7,000 dying annually
from TB. According to Panta, in the first phase of the campaign, only patients
on antiretroviral therapy (ART) will receive isoniazid, and 500 such patients
in the western region will be administered the drug in this phase. He added
that pregnant women with HIV will receive isoniazid in the second phase of the
campaign. He noted that there are more than 51,000 HIV positive persons in
Nepal, and only 8,000 of them are on ART. ART costs more than 200,000 Nepalese
rupees (approximately US $2,290) per patient, while isoniazid costs less, at
3,000 rupees (approximately US $34.35) for six months.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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