HIV infected individuals have increased in Colombo and Gampaha districts

Community specialist physician for sexually transmitted diseases, Dr. Sathya Herath, states that the number of HIV infections reported from the Colombo and Gampaha districts in Sri Lanka has increased unprecedentedly.

Joining a press conference held in Colombo, she pointed out that the number of HIV infections identified year after year is gradually increasing not only at the district level but also across the entire country.

Especially when comparing the period from 2023 to date, the annual number of reported infections has significantly increased, and it has been revealed that the majority of these patients are men. According to Dr. Sathya Herath, the primary reason for this accelerated spread of HIV is individuals engaging in unprotected sexual relations.

In addition, the shared use of syringes, needles, and other related equipment among individuals who inject drugs has also contributed to the increase in the number of patients. The doctor emphasized that while HIV is not a completely curable disease, anyone infected with the virus must continuously receive medical treatment and relevant medications throughout their life.

To control this situation, a series of special mobile clinics are currently operating, centered in the Colombo and Gampaha districts, to identify HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, including hepatitis, early and prevent their spread. The National STD/AIDS Control Programme of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media has made arrangements to provide all necessary medical advice and treatment to patients free of charge.