HIV cases on the increase
by S.M. Wijayaratne, Kurunegala Cor.
At least three HIV positive patients are reported to the government
hospitals every week in the country at present.
This trend is reaching proportions of spreading as an epidemic
islandwide. Every nine of 10 thus reported as HIV positive patients are
in there prime of youth.
In 2012, 186 positive AIDS patients were reported to the Health
authorities. Since 1986, 1,649 positive AIDS patients had been reported
to the Ministry of Health from various parts of the island.
Among them are 981 males and 668 females. Two hundred and eighty
three AIDS deaths have been reported so far and the largest number of
patients has been reported from the Western Province.
"This dreadful disease can be prevented by refraining from unsafe
sexual relationships", said Assistant DMO of Kurunegala Dr. S.M.A.
Priyadarshana.
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