50 undergrads found positive for HIV!

About 50 undergraduates have been infected with HIV in the first nine months of 2020, Dr. Rasanjali Hettiarachchi, Director of the National STD/AIDS Control Programme said.

The total number of HIV positive people detected this year is 342 including four school children and two Buddhist monks.

Dr. Hettiarachchi said the number of people infected with the virus has doubled compared to last year.

The first HIV positive case in the country was detected in 1987. Dr. Hettiarachchi said that about 20 members of clergy including monks and priests of other religions were among the infected people reported so far.

She said 4,404 infected people have been reported since 1987 out of which about 1,000 have died and about 2,300 people are seeking treatment. However, according to estimates, about 3,700 more infected people need to receive medical treatment.

She said about 1,500 HIV infected people are unaware that they have contracted the virus and many people who have unprotected sex with them can contract the virus.

Dr.Hettiarachchi said that such infections can be prevented by talking openly about sex related matters with children.

She also said that the parents and guardians should pay more attention to the youth.