Kamal Panthi

Nepali workers go abroad dreaming of a better future. While many ride out the storm and bring home wealth by a stroke of luck and hard work, some unlucky lots bring HIV/AIDS instead of money. A report published by the United Nations says labour migrants make up 41 percent of the total known HIV infections in Nepal. The family of Chakra Bahadur Bhul of Bhimmapur VDC, Bardiya, is among them. 

Throughout his 10-year stay in Mumbai, Bhul had unprotected sex with many partners and contracted HIV/AIDS. After his home return, he passed on the virus to his wife, Devisara. The three children—a daughter and two sons—the couple had during this period were also born with congenital HIV.

Chakra Bahadur died of AIDS in 2009 at the age of 38. His 35-year-old wife Devisara and the three children also passed away later. The couple’s eldest daughter, who do not wish to be named, is the only surviving member of the Bhul family. The 17-year-old goes to a school at Godiyana village.

After she lost her family, the girl had to go through discrimination and humiliation at her village and school.

“Things are much better for her now, but she is still uncomfortable talking about the tragedy,” said Komal Chaudhary, who works for a local social organisation.

HIV patients were frowned upon by the community when AIDS befell on the Bhul family. The disease meant a death curse, and the ani-retroviral (ARV) treatment was not available for the HIV patients then.

Nowadays, people are relatively aware about HIV compared to last 10 years ago. Discrimination faced by people living with AIDS has also decreased. But no significant progress has been registered when it comes to containing the cases of HIV brought by migrant workers in the country.

Poverty and lack of employment opportunity drive many men of mid and far western districts to go to India and other countries for employment. Many of them practice unsafe sex, contract HIV and transmit the virus to their wives and their newborn.

In the past five years, 127 people tested positive for HIV in Bardiya, according to a study conducted jointly conducted by Nepal Red Cross and two other district-based NGOs. Most of the people infected with the virus are migrant workers and their family members. Bhimmapur, Patabhar, Taratal and Sonashree VDCs have the most number of HIV positive people. There is no official figure to determine the exact figure of HIV positive in Bardiya.

“While the number of HIV positive in the district is still a matter of debate, one thing is sure that most of the people affected by the virus are migrant workers and their family members,” said Khushiram Tharu of Geruwa Rural Awareness Association.

With migratory movements of Nepali growing in last two decades, the exposure to outside world has grown. Among the many deadly unintended consequences of migrant life, contracting AIDS as a result of unprotected sex, is rapidly growing.

Published on: 13 September 2011 | The Kathmandu Post