World Vision Nepal

Once women living in rural Nepal thought they were to blame for getting sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. They suffered in silence, were held hostage to superstitious practices and used makeshift remedies as mud or mustard for treatment.  But together they are learning to stand up for themselves and to speak out on taboo topics to get the proper care and the protection they need.

Social, cultural and religious taboos and stigmas are an integral part of Nepalese culture and society. When it comes to issues dealing with sex and sexuality, people are very hesitant to speak, and HIV and AIDS is the most taboo topic.  Thousands of individuals, especially women and girls, suffer from sexually transmitted infections, HIV and Aids, and in most cases do not receive any care at all.  Yet, in the Butwal area of Nepal, women are beginning to speak up about the issues.

Amidst the conservative environment created by Nepal’s various religious and cultural taboos, Women’s Dialogue Groups have given a voice to women in the midst of their suffering.  Each month groups of 20 women meet together with the purpose of sharing information to making other women aware of HIV and AIDS, STIs, drug abuse, nutrition, reproductive health, and immunization.

Tika, a woman from Butwal had suffered the stigma of a shameful infection and was scared to share it with her husband in fear of being despised. When she confided in her mother-in-law, she was criticized and blamed for catching the infection by walking over the (pure) water used to wash rice- a local superstition. She followed the advice of her mother-in-law to apply wet mud and mustard oil, only to worsen her suffering. Tika didn’t know that she had a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

She recalls, “I used to see women in groups and a WV facilitator coming and teaching them about HIV and AIDS. I had heard that they discussed about sexual diseases. At first I was very reluctant and condemned them for doing so but I was always curious. Without anyone’s knowledge I started attending the sessions. That was how I came to know that my infection was actually an STI which was treatable.”

With the facilitator’s help, Tika went for a check up in a clinic. She received regular treatment for three months and she is now free from her suffering. Tika is also now a member of Nari Jagarit (Awakening Women) Dialogue group. Though initially she had to deal with a lot of scepticism from her family, she’s succeeded in making them understand why she’s part of the group and they now support her.

Besides meeting once every month for new lessons, the women’s dialogue groups are actively involved in observing different HIV- and drug-related special days and events. Similarly, they are very active in counselling and motivating STI cases in their village to visit treatment centres.

Kapil P Gautam, Community Development Coordinator who coordinates the groups focused on creating discussion amongst teenage girls, mothers and young brides adds, “Most of their husbands are migrant workers, labourers, drivers either working in India, Qatar. They come home once or twice in a year. That is why there are so many suspected cases of STIs referred by the members of women development groups for treatment. Like Tika, so many of them have been cured too.”

Women associated with the dialogue group are learning to take preventative measures too. It’s not uncommon for women in the village to call up their husbands and teach them about safe sex, condom use, and STIs over the phone and by letter. When their husbands come home for holidays, they compel them to take an HIV test. Even though some didn’t want to initially, perseverance has paid off.

Being associated with the group has not only made the women more aware and empowered, they have even started to view things in a broader perspective.

Manju Pariyar, 26, member of Jeevan Jyoti (Light of Life) group says, “My husband is working in India. After I was associated with this group and started learning things about HIV, AIDS, and STIs. I immediately called him up and taught him of condom use.”

The women’s dialogue group is empowering village women and helping them get rid of social taboos and superstitions. The village people’s conception of people living with HIV and AIDS has also changed.

Manju adds, “Before, village people would not even drink water from the tap used by them. As a matter of fact, if they fished in the common village pond, then the villagers won’t eat from the pond. However, now people have started treating people living with HIV with respect and care.”

There are around 1,200 women like Tika and Manju, trying to learn and teach others through their involvement in Women’s Development Groups. In Butwal’s seven areas alone, there are more than 60 groups of women gathering.

Manju concludes, “We named our group ‘Jeevan Jyoti’ (Light of Life) because we village people were in the dark and WV brought us out in the light.”

Tika concludes, “In our male-dominated village, WV has been able to help women become bold and speak up for themselves. WV has been able to awaken us. All we knew is that HIV AIDS was a lethal disease, which kills people, but now we are fully aware of its preventive and survival measures.”