HIV/AIDS testing program for migrant workers at BIA

by Ananda Kannangara

A voluntary HIV/AIDS testing program will be conducted by the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for the benefit of Sri Lankan migrant workers, arriving after their stint abroad.

Quoting recent Health Ministry statistics, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that at least 5,000 AIDS infected persons may be living in the country and around 100 had died due to the disease in the recent past.

He was addressing a workshop, conducted by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment under the theme "HIV/AIDS Prevention Program for Migrant Workers".

"Our Ministry and the doctors can play a major role to launch awareness programs in collaboration with the private sector,' he said.