According to the National STD and AIDS Control Program, for the first time HIV infected people among transgender people have been reported from Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, the reports indicate that nine transgender people infected with HIV have been reported in the first quarter of 2023.
 
Meanwhile, 165 HIV infected people have been reported from January to March 2023.

This is the highest number of cases reported in the first quarter since 2009.
 
Out of total patients, 22 males and three females were aged between 15-24 years and other cases were people above 25 years.
 
Commenting on this situation, the director of the National STD/AIDS Control Program, Dr. Janaki Vidanapathirana, said that due to the increased testing capacity, more cases have been reported across the country.

She also said that the most cases are reported from the Weste Province.
 
She added that there is a 43 percent increase in reported cases in 2022 compared to 2021 and this is due to people coming for tests after the lockdown triggered by the pandemic.
 
Dr. Vidanapathirana also emphasized the importance of providing proper sex education to children as there has been a lack of proper sex education in Sri Lanka.

Thus, she advises to choose low-risk sexual behaviors and to take precautions such as using condoms to prevent HIV.


(colombotimes.lk)