Nearly 20 HIV AIDS infected cases had been detected during the first five months of this year from different parts of the country. The victims are between 20-29 years.
The number of HIV AIDS cases is now increasing in the country and most of them were youngsters. About 439 positive HIV AIDS infected cases were detected last year by the Health authorities countrywide and most of them were detected in the Western Province, Director of the AIDS Control Unit of the Health Ministry, Specialist Dr. Rasanjali Hettiarachchi told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
Having sexual relations with unknown persons had been the main reason for the rapid increase in sexually-transmitted diseases in the country.
However, using condoms and other safety measures by those engaged in sexual relationships would help reduce the number of cases among Sri Lankans, she said.
About 23 senior students of leading schools and universities were found to be suffering from AIDS infected diseases during this year and hence, more education programs for senior students of schools need to be organised to enlighten them on preventing sexually-transmitted diseases among the student population.
Kurunegala DMO Dr. S.M.A. Priyadarshana said that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Health Ministry was unable to conduct programs to educate students of schools and universities countrywide on the preventive measures of infectious diseases for the past two years.
This unfavourable trend too has led to the increase in the number of AIDS patients in the country.