90 cases of HIV in 1st half 2013, says HIV/AIDS specialist
View(s):Some 90 people have been diagnosed with HIV in the first six months of 2013 alone compared with 186 cases for the whole of 2013, consultant venereologist and trustee of the AIDS Foundation Dr. Sujatha Samarakoon said recently.
She revealed these worrying statistics as the keynote speaker at the Lanka Business Coalition on HIV and AIDS (LBCH) Annual General Meeting, held at Cinnamon Lakeside hotel.
An estimated 4200 people, including young children are currently living with HIV in Sri Lanka, Dr. Samarakoon said. At first glance, this would make Sri Lanka a low-prevalence country. However the percentage of diagnoses received has been increasing- 2001 figures showed as much as a 25 per cent increase in the number of reported cases. This puts Sri Lanka alongside countries like India,
From left: Nadija Tambiah – Director (LBCH); Anirvan Ghosh Dastidar – newly appointed Chairman (LBCH); Kishu Gomes – Immediate Past Chairman (LBCH); Suresh De Mel – Director (LBCH); Stuart Chapman – Director (LBCH) and Sharmini Mendis – Chief Operating Officer (LBCH).
Bangladesh and the Philippines, Dr. Samarakoon explained, in comments released to the media by LBCH.
In order to reverse this trend, the need of the hour is not just education and awareness, but also sustainable programmes which will allow this important issue to remain in the public consciousness, Dr. Samarakoon said While the National STD/AIDS Control Programme focusses on commercial sex workers and homosexuals as being particularly vulnerable groups, there are others who need education as well, Dr. Samarakoon pointed out.
Many of those diagnosed with HIV are in the ‘economically active’ age group of between 16 to 49 years- comprising most of Sri Lanka’s workforce. An HIV positive diagnosis would leave an impact on productivity, a fact which is often overlooked. In fact, lack of awareness could lead to more serious repercussions, since the country depends on income from tourism, she added.
On a more positive note, there have been no incidents of infection via blood transfusion in Sri Lanka since the year 2000, due to a decision made in 1988 to specially screen all donated blood for HIV, Dr. Samarakoon said. The introduction of anti retro-viral drugs too has improved life expectancy and the quality of life of patients. In addition, there is much less stigmatisation of those diagnosed. Outgoing LBCH Chairman Kishu Gomes observed that it is vital that education and awareness on AIDS and HIV be disseminated among the workforce as well,It was noted that LBCH has been working hard to increase its membership among businesses, in order to achieve their aim of spreading knowledge and awareness about HIV and AIDS countrywide. Ten top corporates have joined the association over the past year, it was reported.
CEO of Standard Chartered Bank and incoming Chairman of LBCH, Anirvan Ghosh Dastidar pledged to carry on the good work of the coalition and called for more engagement from the corporate world on this pressing issue.
Two members of the business world, Suresh de Mel and Stuart Chapman were also officially appointed as directors of the Coalition.
LBCH is a group of individual corporates that have forged an alliance in order to address HIV and AIDS awareness and prevention.