Lanka, not in HIV danger list

By Nadira Gunatilleke

According to the latest statistics, Sri Lanka is not among the South-East Asian countries that have high level of HIV prevalence. But South-East Asia has the second highest number of HIV infected persons, 7.2 million followed by Sub-Sahara Africa, Regional Office for South-East Asia, World Health Organisation (WHO) sources said.

Regional Office for South-East Asia, World Health Organisation (WHO) released these data prior to a press field visit in Thailand and India from November 24 to December 1 organised by WHO, South East Asian Regional Office to mark the World AIDS Day falls on December 1 every year. This year's World AIDS Day slogan is "Stop AIDS. Keep the promise.'

According to the same sources, four countries, India, Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand account for the majority of the estimated HIV burden. India has the highest burden with an estimated 5.2 million (15-49 years) persons living with HIV/AIDS. In India HIV prevalence in some settings is 52 percent among sex workers and similar high rates are reported among injecting drug users in the North-East.

Indonesia is showing an alarming increase in HIV prevalence among injecting drug users up to 50 percent in some sites in urban and rural areas.

In Myanmar the HIV prevalence among injecting drug users and sex workers remains high at 34 percent and 32 percent respectively.

In Thailand the HIV prevalence among injecting drug users has remained at levels around 40 percent since the beginning of the epidemic.