Sharp drop in HIV and AIDS cases in Anuradhapura

By Dayaratne Embogama   

Health authorities in the Anuradhapura District have  expressed satisfaction about the sharp decline in positive cases of HIV  and AIDS reported from the district.   

The Chief Medical Officer of Anuradhapura Sexual Health  Services Centre Dr. Ajith Karavita told the meeting of the AIDS  Prevention Committee yesterday that only four HIV positive patients had  been reported for the first six months of the year, as against 21  patients reported last year.   

He said most of the HIV infected are males and that 155  patients have been reported from the district from 2023 to date, and that  97 per cent of them have been under treatment.   

Most of the HIV infected are males and 155  patients have been reported from the district from 2023 to date

A Medical Officer of the Sexual Health Services Centre Dr.  Hema Weerakoon said more than 12,500 blood tests had been carried out  over the last year to identify the HIV positive cases. She said 150,000  condoms had been distributed free for the last year and that it has been  increased to 500,000.   

Deputy Director of Health Services, Dr. Dhammika De Silva  said the spread of the disease has been successfully brought under  control through public awareness programmes and blood tests.   

Medical Officer of the Sexual Health Services Centre Dr.  Nuwanthi Wijesundara, and several civil society representatives were  present at the occasion.