Workshop on HIV/AIDS for Trinco media persons

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 April 2004, 20:53 GMT]
North East Provincial Ministry of Health Tuesday held a one-day workshop for media personnel in the Trincomalee district, soliciting their co-operation to create awareness among the masses in the prevention and control of HIV AIDS in the northeast. Provincial health regional epidemiologist Dr.T.Thavakodirajah addressing the workshop said northeast province has gained second place with 43 positive AIDS cases in the island.

Provincial Deputy Director of Heath Services, Dr.S.Abraham, presiding over the event.

Jaffna district topped with 20 cases in the northeast , including a new case detected in the year 2003, and Trincomalee district with 06 cases including three cases detected in the year 2003.The details of other districts in the northeast province follow: - Batticaloa-07 (including 2 in 2003), Mullaitivu-02, Killinochchi-02, Amparai-05 and Vavuniya-01, according to the regional epidemiologist.

The first place in Sri Lanka goes to the western province, third and fourth places to central and northwestern provinces respectively, provincial health officials said.

Trincomalee General Hospital Medical Officer in Charge of STD/AIDS clinic, Dr.Ms. Mahendran Dayalini, speaking at the workshop.

The first positive AIDS case was detected in the island in 1987 and the victim was a foreign tourist. Since then till 2003, 513 HIV suspected cases (men-309, women-214) had been detected. Of them 161 (114 men, 47 women) had been found to be positive AIDS cases. Of them 116 had died, said the regional Epidemiologist, Dr. T.Thavakodirajah

Provincial Deputy Director of Health Services, Dr.S.Abraham, presided.

Dr. Mrs. Mahendran Dayalini, medical officer in charge of the STD/AIDS clinic in the Trincomalee general hospital, said that the Trincomalee district is at high risk for spread of HIV due to many reasons. She cited the following reasons:

Tourism potential gets boosted following peace process.

Armed personnel remain in more relaxed environment, as there is no war.

Number of returnees come back from India, a country where HIV is on the increase.

The civil war in the past has left behind more young widows and orphans and

Internally displaced persons are still living in social welfare centres.

"If no appropriate action is taken promptly, damage will be very severe in the near future,” she warned.

“ We are working towards a vision of fear-free community in Trincomalee district for HIV/AIDS. Changing behaviour through information education is a major strategy to achieve this vision. The workshop for media personnel is also arranged towards that vision. The role of media in prevention and control of HIV/AIDS is very vital,” Dr.Ms.Dayalini said.

Medical Officer of health Dr.S.Arulkumaran and Provincial Health official Dr.E.G.Gnanagunalan also spoke.



Regional Epidemiologist Dr.T.Thavakodirajah speaking while provincial health official Dr.E.Gnanagunalan is seated