Global attention regarding the spread of AIDS remains constant. A definitive cure for AIDS has yet to be found, and therefore, it is considered a deadly disease. While Sri Lanka is considered a country with a low prevalence of AIDS compared to the rest of the world, there has been a noticeable increase in the spread of AIDS in Sri Lanka in 2024 compared to previous years.
Meanwhile, global statistics show a significant decrease in the number of new HIV infections and HIV deaths. However, the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS points out that it is still not possible to eradicate this disease, which is recognised as a deadly threat to the public. According to the program, 39.9 million people are currently living with AIDS. Significantly, half of these cases are reported from Southern and Eastern Africa. Global statistics also show that the number of AIDS infections has decreased by 39% since 2010. The number of deaths due to the disease has also decreased by about half.
Exploring the Alarming 15%: Youth at Risk of Infection
Meanwhile, the Director of the National STD and AIDS Control Programme in Sri Lanka, Public Health Specialist Dr. Vindhya Kumarapelli, points out that between 200 and 300 infected individuals were identified in 2020-2021. However, she notes that this number doubled in 2022-2023. A significant trend is the increase in new AIDS infections among men in Sri Lanka.
She stated that 15% of those reported with AIDS in the last 10 years were youth aged 15-24, a serious situation. 88% of the new HIV infections reported in 2023 were men. Dr. Vindhya Kumarapelli, Director of the Sri Lanka National STD and AIDS Control Programme, points out that a higher percentage of those currently living with HIV are men. She also noted that out of the 694 patients reported in 2023, 92 were young people aged between 15 and 24.
Responding to a media enquiry about why the majority of those reported are men, she stated that sexual behaviour is the main reason. Studies on this subject have revealed that finding partners through the Internet, lack of proper sexual education, and drug addiction contribute to unsafe sexual practices.
The Importance of Safe Sexual Practices: Breaking the Silence in Society
The best course of action to control this risky situation is to educate people about safe sexual practices. Several high-risk groups have been identified: men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender individuals, sex workers, and beach boys. Health authorities point out that understanding how to practice safe sex is the best way to prevent HIV infection. Health authorities have identified that despite technological advancements, awareness on this subject remains minimal.
Stay Safe: Leading Approaches to HIV Prevention Explained Simply
Accordingly, Dr. Vino Dharmakulaasinghe, a specialist in STDs at the National STD and AIDS Control Programme, says that several HIV prevention methods exist. Delaying sexual activity until marriage is the most important. If this is not possible, limiting oneself to one faithful sexual partner is the second method. Another step is to use condoms if having sex with multiple partners. Studies have revealed that many who engage in premarital sex do not follow any of these safety methods. Furthermore, there is a lack of social understanding regarding pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), medication that can be taken within 72 hours of an unsafe sexual encounter.
Treatment Options After an Unsafe Encounter
PrEP is an antiretroviral medication that can be used to prevent HIV. It must be taken in prescribed doses before and after sexual activity. This can be used daily or for sexual encounters. The National STD and AIDS Control Programme’s official website provides relevant information. However, societal unawareness of these issues hinders control of the situation. However, these medications are dispensed only on medical advice. The Sri Lankan health service has taken steps to provide this facility at 40 STD clinics across the island.
Individuals who meet the following criteria may receive medical advice for PrEP use: being a member of the MSM or transgender community, engaging in unprotected (condomless) anal sex with a casual male partner within the past 3 months, having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the past 6 months, using psychoactive drugs during sexual encounters, and having an HIV-infected sexual partner with poorly controlled viral load.
Preventing AIDS: The Critical Role of Public Awareness
If unsafe sexual activity has occurred, it is crucial to seek necessary treatment as soon as possible. The importance of being aware that there are opportunities to prevent STDs and HIV is paramount. Sri Lanka is planning to implement a special awareness program about the antiretroviral treatment plan that can be taken to prevent HIV infection after unsafe sexual activity with an HIV-positive partner. This treatment should be started within 24 hours, not after 72 hours. Clinics providing free treatment and testing operate at 40 centres across the country.
Global Progress Against AIDS: Hopeful Trends in Prevention Efforts
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation points out that the number of HIV infections has decreased by 39% since 2010. In Afghanistan, Egypt, Fiji, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Saudi Arabia, the number of reported infections has increased by more than 100% between 2010 and 2023. However, Kenya, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, as well as Nepal, have managed to control the percentage of AIDS infections by 75%. This is a special global situation. Furthermore, Lesotho, Estonia, Benin, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Botswana, Eritrea, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Togo, Zambia, Burundi, Guinea-Bissau, Uganda, Tajikistan, Portugal, Belarus, and Italy have managed to control the number of infections by up to 60%.
Breaking Barriers: Understanding the Increased Life Expectancy for People Living with AIDS
Meanwhile, a significant increase in infected individuals seeking treatment can be globally observed. This value fluctuates between 77% and 82%. Furthermore, due to the global immunisation program, the life expectancy of AIDS patients has increased from 56 to 61 years. Steps have been taken to increase treatment in Africa. In some countries, the AIDS control program has been strengthened due to laws that criminalise homosexual acts and drug use. Christine Stegling, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Programme on AIDS, points out that global statistics now confirm that AIDS can be controlled based on access to healthcare and awareness. The statement also emphasises that everyone affected by the disease should have the right to treatment.
