National need to create AIDS awareness - Medical Officer

Polgahawela group correspondent

POLGAHAWELA: Nearly 25 million persons have died during the past 25 years due to AIDs said Dr. Mrs. Chandrika Jayakodi, Officer-In-charge of the Venereal Diseases Unit of Kurunegala Hospital.

She said so at an AIDS awareness programme which was held at the District Secretariat Kurunegala for Divisional Secretaries and staff officers.

Dr.Jayakodi said AIDS, which threatened the world was detected by America in 1981. At first no one was aware of the effect of this virus. However 60 million were identified as AIDS infected persons 25 million had died.

Another dangerous characteristic of this disease is its long-term chronical situation. Sometimes it may take 10 or 12 years to detect this disease. She said we should be thoroughly aware of this situation. We should introduce this drastic situation to the public.

Though our country is not badly affected by this disease fourteen thousand new suspected cases were found per day. Ninety percent of them are low income generators. It has dangerously affected the labour force.

Dr. Jayakodi said considering Sri Lanka’s first HIV patient was identified in 1987, up to now 838 persons have been identified and 155 have died. Therefore, there is a national need to prevent the spreading of this fatal malady in this country.

She said there are 27 sub-Sahara zonal countries in Africa and out of their population 40 per cent are HIV infected.

In India, the number is six million. Kurunegala District Secretary Mrs. Jayantha C.T. Bulumulla, Additional Secretaries Mrs. Kusum Hettige and H.M. Hitisekara were also present.