HIV in Hambantota

By Chandrasena Gamage

Health authorities expressed concern about the rapid increase of HIV infected individuals in the Hambantota District this year, a medical officer of the Hambantota District Sexually Transmitted Diseases Prevention Unit told the media during a medical clinic held recently in Ambalangoda area. 

He pointed out that 21 HIV infected individuals had been identified from the district this year and that there could be more yet to be identified. He said a total number of 87 patients had been identified from the district, most of them from Suriyawewa and Tissamaharama areas, and that there could be more yet to be identified.   

The medical officer further said HIV was not a terminal disease which could be cured through treatments at early stage before it developed into the state of AIDS.