Kathmandu (Pahichan) June 9 – For the first time, IBBS survey is going to take place outside the Kathmandu valley.  Save the Children, Ministry of Health and other stakeholders are joining the hands in research which will check HIV prevalence, their body and behavioural report.

“Save the Children will conduct the research, we are facilitating it because it is a national project,” said Bir Bahadur Rawal, Information Officer of National AIDS and HIV Control Division. “This research is conducted among street children, homosexual, transgender and sexual worker. The research will be conduct in Kathmandu, Jhapa, Moran, Sunsari, Rupandehi, Kapilbastu, Kailai and Kanchanpur.

“This we are conducting among street children and who will use the drug in Kathmand, Rawal said, “Outside the Kathmandu valley it will be concentrated to homosexual and transgender.”  Earlier, there has been research among drug user male, women sex worker and homosexual and transgender.

This project is conducted in every two years. Save the Children and Global Fund are providing fund to conduct such research. “This will produce a unified study to know the body and behavioural features and chances of HIV infection.” Rawal said.  This research is going to be conducted with a view that male homosexual and transgender are in vulnerable situation.

Various chapters of Blue Diamond Society will assist in the research.  In the eastern districts Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari there will be research among 120 and same number in Rupandehi and Kapilbastu.

The number will be 100 in Kailali and Kanchanpur. Councillor, technical person and lab technician will be in the research team and it will take at least three months to complete research. Chairman of Blue Diamond Society Pinky Gurung said it is s first time that such type of research is going to take place outside the Kathmandu valley.

She said such research will impact the policy-making process of the government. Anika Rana, transgender at Rupandehi said it would be fruitful to improve the situation of LGBTI.