DARSHANA SANJEEWA BALASURIYA Reply To:
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HIV on the rise, mainly in Colombo and Gampaha
The number of HIV infection cases increased to 1,845 last year from 1,649 cases reported the previous year, and the majority of them were from Colombo and Gampaha, Parliament was informed today.The first HIV or AIDS afflicted person was reported in 1987 at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital. The Health Ministry gave these details to the House responding to a question by UNP MP P. Harrison. Since then, there is a rise in HIV infections. There were 1,463 cases in 2011, 1,317 in 2010, 1,196 in 2009, 1,059 in 2008, 957 in 2007, 838 in 2006, 743 in 2005, 614 in 2004, 523 in 2003, 455 in 2002,405 in 2001 and 358 in 2000.
Unsafe sexual relationships, transmission from the mother infected with HIV to the child and transmission through infected blood, are among the main causes for the spread of the disease.
Deputy Health Minister Lalith Dissanayake , who replied on behalf of the Ministry, said 29 main clinics and 18 branches were being conducted with the help of public and non governmental sectors covering all the districts to contain the disease.
Mr. Harrison said a number of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals work in the hotel sector in Sri Lanka , and asked whether there was a system in place to subject them to health checkups.
However, the Deputy Minister said that it could not be done practically.(Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)
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