Education, culture cause for low HIV prevalence

[Sri Lanka’s HIV/AIDS situation]

* HIV/AIDS low prevalence country.

* Education and culture cause for low prevalence

* Health service considered a future investment

* Anti-Retroviral treatment is provided free for HIV/AIDS patients.

Sri Lanka is a HIV/AIDS low prevalence country. High Literacy Rate and Strength of cultural identity is cause for low prevalence of HIV/AIDS, said Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva recently.

The Minister made above observation participating as the chief guest at the World Aids Day commemoration held at the BMICH last Friday. This occasion was organised by WHO and National STD/AIDS control Program.

The Minister said “We are proud about low prevalence of AIDS. Education and health services will be provided as a future investment to the people free. Most of the people can understand any matter. Solutions can be found to many health problems.

Sri Lanka as a developing country Anti Retroviral Treatment is provided free for HIV/AIDS infected patients. Even USA, UK, India, Maldives and other countries don’t provide that treatment free Education and health policies are made to give lessons to develop countries. It is the Sri Lankan Identity, he said.

The country has a better cultural background with Buddhism, Hindu, Islam and Christianity cultures. It helps to control behaviour patterns of the people.

The Government has given the full contribution to protect the culture. The program of distributing condoms and controlling sex workers is not enough to control distribution of HIV/AIDS. The country needs another external and broadest program to protect the national cultural pattern, the Minister said.

The Government has launched Mathata Thitha program for the protection of the future generation.

The Government earns 12 percent of national income from tobacco and alcohol tax and spend 22 percent for the treatment of diseases from tobacco and alcohol. An authority is established to reduce the usage of tobacco and alcohol.

Most of the so-called leaders try to destruct the health system. When they come to power, they will privatize the health system.

Sri Lanka’s National Blood Transfusion service is the number one in the South East Asian Region. Blood Transfusion Service donated thousands pints of blood during several decades. Only two HIV infected cases have been reported through blood transfusion, the Minister said.