AIDS patients on the increase

by S.M. Wijayaratne, Kurunegala Cor.

The Health Ministry has confirmed that from July to September 2013, 69 positive AIDS patients have been detected from various parts of the island. Dr. Sisira Liyanage, the Director of National Centre of Aids Control Institute of the Ministry of Health has pointed out that this was the period during which the largest number of positive AIDS patients were reported in the country.

He said that since 1989, 1808 AIDS patients have been detected from Sri Lanka up to now and 317 patients of them have died of AIDS so far.

However, other patients are now undergoing medical treatment.

The Ministry of Health had decided to launch a massive dedication program islandwide for the school and university community to enlighten on this fatal disease. Two thousand three hundred awareness programs are to be held at school level on December 1 this year as the world AIDS Day is marked December, 1 said Dr. A.M. Priyadarshana, the Asst. DMO in Kurunegala.