15-year-old child contracts HIV

• Children claim to attend tuition but spend time in isolated places

BY Palitha Ariyawansa   

Badulla Division ASP G.W.B.S. Palipana said a 15-year-old child had contracted HIV and that it was a matter of serious concern.  

Addressing a seminar yesterday at Badulla Teaching Hospital  to mark World Skin Health Day said children were in the habit of  leaving home under the pretext of attending tuition classes and spending  the day with different individuals in the jungle.  

“To resolve this issue the police have been put on guard  at the Sorabora tank reservation after we found a group of about 15  school children in the jungle. It has been revealed that a 15-year-old  child in Mahiyangana area has contracted HIV. It is illegal to abuse a  child under 16 years of age even with consent,”  he said   

“Children are in the habit of using cosmetics to change  their complexion, which results in skin diseases.

The use of cosmetics without  medical advice would ruin the natural beauty of the complexion and cause  extensive damage to the skin. Wasteful expenditure in the case of a married  woman for cosmetics results in family disputes. They waste the earnings  of their husbands that should be used for the family welfare,” ASP  Palipana further said.  

Medical Specialist in Dermatology Dr. Kasun Jaysinghe,  Deputy Hospital Director Dr. Gayan Cooray and Psychiatrist Dr. Kamal  Walgama addressed the seminar.