Outreach worker conducting HIV testing in Bara district.
Testing at risk individuals for HIV.
PEPFAR: Transforming the Global HIV/AIDS Response
The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease. The U.S. has invested over $100 billion in the global fight against HIV/AIDS through PEPFAR in the past 20 years, which has saved 25 million lives, prevented millions of HIV infections, and provided HIV treatment to over 20 million people.
EpiC Nepal lab personnel in SACTS city clinic at Kathmandu”
In Nepal, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and PEPFAR have been supporting the government’s HIV response since 2003. These efforts have contributed to significant gains in Nepal’s fight against HIV; new HIV infections have decreased by 67% since 2010, and deaths due to HIV/AIDS have decreased by 65%.
USAID’s support includes providing strategic technical assistance to Nepal’s HIV response and strengthening the delivery of HIV services. USAID supports the HIV continuum of care, including the following areas:
- Identifying key populations at high-risk for HIV infection.
- Reaching out to at-risk populations through virtual platforms and community workers.
- Testing individuals for HIV
- Providing diagnosis, counseling and linkage to HIV prevention and treatment services.
- Enrolling HIV-positive clients in care and support services.
- Initiating antiretroviral therapy medications.
- Providing lifelong counseling, care, and treatment services to sustain treatment gains and improved quality of life.
- Supporting sustained HIV viral suppression to achieve U=U (undetectable = untransmittable)
In the Community
We support the provision of mental health services to address the psychosocial and mental well-being needs of our service recipients. One of our beneficiaries from Kailali district expressed gratitude for USAID’s support for mental health screening, saying:
It’s because of you and your organization that I am alive today.”
During COVID-19 related lockdowns in Nepal that restricted movement and interrupted the provision of many HIV services, we ensured that people living with HIV were able to continue receiving life saving treatment, even delivering treatment medicines to their homes. One of our beneficiaries shared,
When I was ill and suffering from bad health, you took care of me more than a family member would. I am very thankful towards care providers and your organization.”
PEPFAR 20th Anniversary
The US Government celebrates the 20th Anniversary of PEPFAR by recognizing the remarkable accomplishments to date, in partnership with the Government of Nepal, civil society, other development partners and communities, to combat HIV/AIDS. We look forward to achieving our goal of ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic as a public health threat by 2030 while sustainably strengthening public health systems.
