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| Posted: 29 Oct 2009 10:41 | ||
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Registered User Currently Offline |
Posts: 75 Join Date: Jul 2009 |
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Thursday, 29 October 2009
According to statistics of the AIDS Foundation of Lanka (AFL), since 1986 1,161 HIV/AIDS cases have been officially reported in Sri Lanka. Speaking at a seminar for media personnel Tuesday, Senior Consultant Venereologist NSACP Dr. Sujatha Samarakoon said “Of the total number of HIV cases reported from 1986, 94.8 percent were sexually transmitted, 4.4 percent from mother to child and through blood transfusion. Only one case of HIV has been due to intravenous drug use.” She also said “it is necessary to check the HIV status”. We have a Central clinic and 30 full time laboratories in Sri Lanka. If someone is HIV negative he or she should take precautions and if positive, take treatment. But everyone should know that there is no drug to kill the virus and also no vaccine. So prevention is better than cure.” It is people in the 20 to 49 age group who are affected from HIV. They represent the core of our work force. So if we lose them it will affect the development of the country.” “Low condom use and commercial sex are other reasons for transmission of HIV in Sri Lanka. Lack of awareness is the major problem. When someone is affected with HIV he or she fears to face society. This attitude must be changed. Otherwise the number of HIV cases will go up rapidly. Some people even don’t know how it spreads. They fear to live with HIV infected people. We should not isolate victims from society. They have the right to live freely in society. First of all we should change attitudes of the people,” said Consultant Physician Ananda Wijewickrama. Director Research and Programs AFL Sarojini Perera, HIV Activist Princy Mangalika also spoke. |
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