KATHMANDU, July 23, 2007  –  The “bigoted and factually incorrect” stance taken by government health officials in Dhangadi, Nepal, this month has been criticised by the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

In a message to the Blue Diamond Society, Nepal’s only gay HIV/Aids NGO, Robert Key, the executive director of Elton John AIDS Foundation (UK), said he was appalled at the attitude of health officials.

!The Elton John AIDS Foundation is extremely proud to support the Blue Diamond Society and the HIV/Aids work that they are undertaking in Nepal,” Mr. Key wrote.  “Men who have sex with men, transgender communities and other sexual minorities are made far more vulnerable to HIV infection when they are forced to live their lives in secret by a society that denies or condemns their existence.”

He went on to say that Blue Diamond Society was working to inform these communities about HIV/Aids and their rights – and supporting those who are HIV positive to access appropriate treatment and care services.

“The government of Nepal should be working with NGOs like Blue Diamond who reach out to vulnerable communities particularly in areas like the Far Western Development Region with high HIV/Aids prevalence levels and limited government treatment and care services,” Mr. Key said.

“We were therefore appalled to hear about the bigoted and factually incorrect attitudes shown at the meeting organised by the District Public Health Office in Dhangadi this month.  We call upon the government of Nepal to show leadership in promoting the rights of all its citizens under the UN covenants on Human Rights – to which Nepal is a signatory, including sensitising its regional officials, particularly those involved in responding to the HIV/Aids epidemic to the needs and rights of sexual minority groups.”

Two years ago, the Elton John AIDS Foundation gave a substantial grant to the Blue Diamond Society for its HIV/Aids work.

Last week, Dhangadi public health officer Krishna Bhatta questioned the need for HIV/Aids outreach advocacy and demanded the presence of the funder of the Blue Diamond Society to discuss whether the project should continue.

Bhatta then said that he would find out who was providing the funding.  “I also need proof whether there are HIV+ people from MSM/MSW communities here,” he added, saying that the “anus doesn’t have any sexual tissues, that’s why there is no chance of HIV/AIDS transmission” and that “there [are] no MSM/MSW/TG in Dhangadi, so I believe this Care and Support program in Dhangadi for MSM/MSW/TG is absolutely unnecessary”.

Click HERE for report of last week’s meeting organized by the Dhangadi District Health Office and attended by the Blue Diamond Society.

See Also:

Gay Community Reels as Métis Assaulted by Police  for Carrying Condoms.  Police in Kathmandu today stand accused of assault on ‘Métis’ (transgender people) in Ratna Park last night after it was discovered that the métis were carrying condoms.  (UK Gay News, July 15, 2007)

South African Justice Edwin Cameron Gives Hope To Nepal’s Gays.  By Diwas Kc.  Monday January 8 may have passed as a normal day in Kathmandu.  Yet, inside the Malla Hotel, new grounds were being broken.  For the first time in the recorded history of Nepal, a conference was organized to discuss the constitutional rights of sexual minorities.  (UK Gay News, January 15, 2007)

Gay Group in Nepal Gets Cash Boost From Elton John AIDS Foundation.  Nepal’s Blue Diamond Society (BDS) has been awarded a grant of £25,000 by the Elton John AIDS Foundation.  The money means that the BDS will be able to continue its work with those suffering from AIDS for a further year.   (UK Gay News, September 7, 2005)

LINKS
 

website

Elton John AIDS Foundation UK website (secure online donations can be made on this site)