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HIV spreading among youngsters: Medical Expert

26 October 2022 04:22 pm - 17     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The HIV infection is now spreading among youth between 18 and 30 year-olds where 50 such cases have been reported during the first nine months of this year, Director of the National STD and AIDS Control Program Dr. Rasanjali Hettiarachchi said.

She told the Daily Mirror that fourteen university students and three school children were among those reported cases.

She said about 2,350 people were receiving treatment for HIV in Sri Lanka whereas it was estimated that some 3,750 HIV infected people were in the society. 

Dr. Hettiarachchi said HIV infections among youth have increased due to lack sex education. 

"HIV and AIDS are two different diseases. We have treatment for HIV in Sri Lanka and because of this, the number of people who were infected with AIDS has reduced. It is pathetic that youth have become victims of HIV as they will have to take treatment for a long time," she said.
She pointed out that youth have infected the disease due to drug addiction and through social events such as parties where they attend in groups. (Ajith Siriwardana)

 

 


  Comments - 17

  • Lassana Deyak Wednesday, 26 October 2022 04:57 PM

    Too many in country complaining about New York 2022 Miss Sri Lanka pageant, without realisng youth here are more morally down than those youth there. 225 in Parliament and suppressing of free voice, means fun party and other thing happen more for our morally bankrupt nation's youth to take their mind away. Then some get into drugs too.

    Think about it Wednesday, 26 October 2022 05:06 PM

    The doctor is not being clear enough with her statement. The shocking fact is there is no cure for AIDS, only management via various drugs . Western governments have spent billions in research for the last forty years to find a vaccine to cure AIDS but all attempts have failed. WHY ? Almost all the people with titles like “ Professor”, “Medical Expert” who are being paid by governments to find the cure for AIDS are all DOCTORS. We need PhDs in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics to lead the research , that is why no breakthrough even after 40 years and billions of dollars.

    ruwan Wednesday, 26 October 2022 07:34 PM

    if you think only doctors are involved in those researchers, you have zero knowledge about medical researchs. and we can cure. The end stage of untreated HIV is AIDS which is difficult to treat. because at that stage, its no the HIV it self killing the patient but all other pathogen dur to low immunity.

    Shelly Belly Wednesday, 26 October 2022 05:29 PM

    No surprise. Look at what the Sri Lankan youth are putting out on social media. Tick Tocks and YouTube videos of explicit and adult content. Of women posing in sultry ways, titles like "hot girls" etc., sexualizing young girls. Just type Sri Lanka and this is what comes up. Sex education does nothing to stop immorality. Here in the US it has been taught for decades. It has only led youth to experimenting at a younger age, as young as 12. Get the monks there start teaching the youth about self control and abstinence. Oh wait. Never mind.

    Dilshan Perera Wednesday, 26 October 2022 05:43 PM

    Imbecile 'Think About It ' don't wait around for Doctors to do it.. or even PhDs, Chemists, Biologists etc.. Why don't you find the cure for HIV?? You can start by reading the difference between AIDS and HIV! You are a true curse and waste of life who should never have been born..

    KOKUVILAN Wednesday, 26 October 2022 05:48 PM

    REASON FOR INCREASE IN HIV IS POLICE AND HEALTH DEPT GUYS AS FROM COLPITYA TO KATHARAGAMA ALONG GALLE ROAD YOU FIND ENOUGH MASSAGE SEX TRADE CENTERS WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIV WITH INEFFECTIVE POLICE ASSITING SEX TRADE FOR MONEY.

    city Wednesday, 26 October 2022 05:50 PM

    Sri Lankans so called Culture is the biggest barrier for sex education.

    Aram Wednesday, 26 October 2022 08:34 PM

    90 kids status in SL seem dangerous

    Abeya Thursday, 27 October 2022 02:10 AM

    Even university students are primitive. These Gobba doctors and Health Ministry are also responsible as they do not educate properly or take the initiative to talk to the patients. Doctors believe talking too much with a patent will impact their "Raja Status" . Again Sri Lankan ingenious mentality. Most of them believe - Blood to Blood only makes them infected whereas they are not aware of other types of body fluids also transmit HIV

    Dr KSW Thursday, 27 October 2022 04:11 AM

    Couldn't agree with you more. Instead of creating taboo around subject should educate young people on safe sex, safe relationships and also on being safe online. HIV positive patients now thanks to modern medicine have low risk of transmission to others and have long life expectancies and many don't get aids and die of other causes later in life. If diagnosed and treatment started early they can have non infected children and even significantly reduce risk of infecting their partner. Whilst the biggest risk of HIV is from unsafe sexual practices and intravenous drug use (sharing needles), there are other ways you can get infected too. E.g., Transfer from infected mother to child, health care workers due to work place injuries and people transfused with infected blood products. So end the taboo around HIV/Aids, talk about safe sex practices in schools, unis, more access to STI clinics and testing. If Sri Lanka wants to progress need to change these archaic attitudes.

    Mahila Thursday, 27 October 2022 04:28 AM

    Bountiful Love, Affection, Care for one and all!! What else do you expect!!?? ‘Cockroach” scratches!!?? What happened to law prohibiting, massage parlours and Sex exploitation places close to schools, Tuitorie Temples of all denominations!!!??? All are aware Liquor licenses are observed in the breech of the Law because of ‘Revenue Raising’ for funds starved STATE TREASURY and this part is lax to ensure, ‘Revenue Raising’ for LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, probably for personal gain!!

    Punchi Thursday, 27 October 2022 05:04 AM

    Buddha loves us Sinhala Buddhist people. Buddha has blessed our paradise. Why is it Buddha is allowing diseases like HIV, Aids, Covid etc come into our Buddhist paradise and infect his people who have even made the ultimate that is human sacrifices to him.

    Muhunthan(Walker) Sothilingam Thilagawathy Thursday, 27 October 2022 06:46 AM

    It's a shocking data you have publish in the news paper but if you would have analysed the data when it was a War happened between Ceylon and Tamil's Land that would much better data. Even though those days are World's peak of HIV and AIDS. The Police Force of Ceylon should avoid those brothels and prostitutes from the Lands. Also in here I am not never ever tried or intended to try start the fight again but if you write a essay or article you should have the ability to analyse bit deeper. By the way Ceylon Police Force should avoid those thugs from the Lands. Or total isolation from the society to all of them.

    DillonDP Thursday, 27 October 2022 07:10 AM

    Social events such as parties where they attend in group... I think your talking about group orgy

    Nihal Thursday, 27 October 2022 10:13 AM

    Dilshan Perera:: So much erratic anger as you could not handle the truth. A lunatic would not publish his full name, so you are not Dilshan Perera, you are fake.

    We know you Thursday, 27 October 2022 10:16 AM

    Hey Dilshan Perera, you must be the madman people are calling as “D B S Jeyaraj “.

    Ken Thursday, 27 October 2022 11:14 AM

    Think About It, you are correct to the point, mate. The fact that even 40 years later we are still talking about this infection shows , there is no comprehensive cure.So why is one fellow Dhilshan Perera is livid , makes no sense at all, Governor. May be this fellow has the AIDS.


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