AIDS control receives Rs 1,000 m from Budget
Ridma DISSANAYAKE
The government allocated Rs 1,000 million through Budget 2013 for the
programme launched by the Health Ministry to eradicate HIV/AIDS from Sri
Lanka even though the island remains as a “low risk” country, Deputy
Health Minister Lalith Dissanayake said. There are 34.2 million HIV/AIDS
patients worldwide and 30 million among them are adults. The rest are
children and youths. AIDS has not become a threat in Sri Lanka. However,
the government has taken measures to control the spread of HIV/AIDS, he
said.
The deputy minister was addressing the inauguration ceremony of the
walk organised by the Health Ministry to mark ‘World AIDS DAY – 2012’ at
the ministry premises on Saturday.
The first HIV patient in Sri Lanka was detected in 1981 and 1,597
persons with
HIV/AIDS have been identified so far in Sri Lanka. Two hundred and
seventy five have already died. During the first 11 months of this year,
around 135 HHIV/AIDS cases have been reported and 52 among them are new
born children. Twenty two among these 135 AIDS patients have died, he
said.
Dissanayake said due to the strong cultural and religious environment
in Sri Lanka, it has stayed a low risk country where HIV is concerned,
he said.
The walk commenced at the Health Ministry and ended at the Health
Eradication Project.
Director General of Health Dr Palitha Maheepala, a number of artistes
and volunteer organisations also participated. |
