A recent UNAIDS report has given the global community a boost to the goal of ending the HIV endemic by 2030. The report, “The Path that Ends AIDS” highlights that the fight against the endemic is successful in countries where there are strong governmental support. In Bhutan, the national goal is in line with the UNAIDS. However, with 79 cases, the country recorded the highest number of cases last year indicating that the fight against the virus is far from over. Nonetheless, to help achieve the goal, Lhak-Sam has been conducting awareness programmes over the years. Similarly, the NGO is in Punakha and Wangdue Phodrang these days.
Wangda Dorji, the Executive Director of Lhak-Sam and his wife Tshering Choden, still very much the face of the organisation’s fight against the virus are collaborating with students from Samtse College of Education this time to remind and educate employees of Punatsangchu Hydroelectric Project about the disease. With as many as around 660 people living with HIV and recent surge in cases, the organisation says it intends to continue stepping up its efforts in achieving the national target of achieving an HIV-free society.
“Actually, starting last year, we took advocacy very aggressively because as per last year’s HIV detection cases, there were much more cases as compared to the previous years. So, it has raised lots of concerns and then also put lots of pressure among the organisation to do more to put our force and efforts into prevention of HIV,” said Wangda Dorji.
Such programmes are helping people learn about the prevention of the disease and the support network available in the country if a person becomes diagnosed.
“We did not know about HIV/AIDS in detail so far. They presented and told us in detail about the diseases here today. Moreover, they have explained to us in detail and understood about how does HIV transmit. Likewise, they also told us thoroughly about how to prevent these diseases,” said Tashi, a participant.
“I came to know that there is nothing to be worried or scared about the disease. Even if we test positive, we now know that the government is helping a lot by giving the necessary treatment,” said Rechu, another participant.
Since the detection of the first HIV case in 1993, the country detected a total of 874 cases so far. 178 individuals died due to AIDS-related complications and 641 people are on anti-retroviral treatment. Though the prevalence of the disease is low in Bhutan, last year’s record detection shed light on the prevalence of the disease in greater numbers than what is expected.
The Health Ministry attributes the spike in cases last year to the likelihood of increase in number of people coming forward to test their status. Out of 79 cases last year, most were those who contracted the disease through sexual transmission.
“I think the major dominant root of heavy transmission is through sexual route, and if we calculate in percentage, I think almost 96 per cent of HIV transmission is happening through sexual route. And the second one is mother to child transmission of HIV. If we calculate in percentage, I think it is 2 to 3 percentage,” said Wangda Dorji.
With an estimated 1300 cases, Bhutan’s detection gap stands at around 32 per cent. The gap has been reduced by about 15 per cent from 2019 to 2022. This means there are still over 425 people with HIV that have not come forward to test.
To close this gap, organisations like Lhak-Sam are advocating on the need for policy interventions and financial support.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
Edited by Kipchu
