Experts from SAARC member states are in the capital to finalise the second edition of the Regional Strategy on HIV/ AIDS.
The two-day event which began today, will lay emphasis on a strategy for regional cooperation in the prevention, treatment and care of people living with HIV/AIDS.
South Asia has about 3.5 million people living with HIV, and is home to one- fifth of the world’s young population who are highly vulnerable to the disease.
This strategy is the only regional framework that addresses the issue of people living with HIV/AIDS, and is successful.
Bhutan, however, faces the challenge of reaching certain vulnerable sections of society.
Namgay Tshering of the National HIV/AIDS Control Programme says, “It is very challenging for us to reach those hidden sections of population- which include female sex-workers, men having sex with men, transgender, and people injecting drugs- who are at high risk of getting infected by HIV.”
There are at least 300 people living with HIV/AIDS in Bhutan. There exists no data, though, on the aforementioned vulnerable groups.
Over six million female sex-workers, men having sex with men, transgender, and over 300,000 injecting drug-users that are considered most at risk of HIV infection are in the SAARC countries.
