HIV Infection Among st School Children Of The Age Group 14-19 Is On The Increase -National STD/AIDS Campaign Director

The HIV Infection among st Sri Lankan School Children of the age group 14-19 is on the increase according to the Director of National Sexually Transmitted Diseases /AIDS Campaign Dr.Sisira Liyanage.The main reason behind the increased number of HIV Infection among st School Children is unprotected sexual activities Dr.Liyanage has stressed.

During last year(2014) 22 School Children infected with HIV/AIDS Virus have been identified  and during past five months of this year around 23 HIV Infected School Children have identified he has revealed.

"This is a very unfortunate incident and if the School Authorities allowed the medical staff of STD/AIDS Campaign to educate the School Children on HIV/AIDS few years back this disaster should have been avoided" Dr.Liyanage has said.The STD/AIDS Campaign had few years ago  requested School Principles to allow them to conducting HIV/AIDS Awareness Programmes for school children inside school premises but the Principles and the education ministry officers then continuously refused to  allow conducting these   programmes inside schools  citing the ethical and cultural barrier factors.

However the present Education Ministry Authorities have granted permission lat month for the STD Campaign to hold such programmes in schools for school children to make awareness on HIV/AIDS." Our aim is to protect the future generation of School Children from HIV/AIDS" the STD/AIDS Campaign Director has stated.

" Since early this month  an Island Wide HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign among st school children has commenced from Colombo Schools Dr.Liyanage has further added.