External migrations account for 22 percent of HIV infections

Manjari Peiris

Senior Consultant Venereologist at the National STD/AIDS Control Program Dr Sujatha Samarakoon revealed that an analysis of data gathered on HIV from 2008/09 observes that almost 22 percent of the infections reported in each year were associated with external migration.

The data shows that the proportion among HIV infections which had caused due to blood and blood products is extremely low which is about 0.4 percent of the cumulative reported on HIV infections.

According to Dr Samarakoon, in 2008, a total of 320,091 blood donations had been tested for HIV of which 11 were confirmed to be positive.

In 2009 among a total of 309,909 blood units that were tested, a total of 13 have been confirmed as positive. The seropositivity rates were 0.003 percent and 0.004 percent for the two consecutive years of 2008 and 2009.

Speaking at the 15th Annual Academic Sessions of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, she further explained that of a test done among 11,216 mothers, in 2009 two had been reported infected giving a seropositivity rate of 0.02 percent; another one person was confirmed infected of a test done among 2,659 antenatal mothers between 15-24 years.

At this session, Dr Firdosi Mehta, WHO Sri Lanka Representative said that there is a dramatic role for the College of Community Physicians to perform in regard to controlling non-communicable diseases as there is an alarming rate of non-communicable diseases prevailing in the country.

“You need to take the responsibility of putting your efforts among right places and people, especially in educating politicians on NCDs. Collaboration with private-public sectors is vital to launch health oriented initiatives to grow from strength to strength.”

Dr Mehta highlighted the fact that the Health Ministry NCD Unit which was functioning very well two years ago has been holding under the supervision of acting Directors since then is now in a poor status.