Momentary pleasure could end in deadly disease

Increasing numbers of schoolboys are indulging in unsafe sex with sex workers, although there is a certain amount of awareness among adults about the dangers of unsafe sex and the spread of AIDS, the National STD/AIDS Control Programme warns.

With December 1 being declared International AIDS Day, National STD/AIDS Control Programme Director Dr. Nimal Edirisinghe said reported cases of AIDS/HIV have increased between 2004-2006 and this could be due to more people coming voluntarily for regular checkups and treatment consequent to a major drive towards awareness campaigns.

“When we talk to sex workers we are told that some boys insist on unsafe sexual acts. Ninety-six percent of HIV/AIDS cases are due to unsafe sexual behaviour. A momentary pleasure may lead to a deadly disease. We hope to conduct awareness programmes among schoolchildren,” he said.

He said there were about 20,000 sex workers plying their services in Colombo.“Males returning from abroad have a high tendency of carrying the HIV/AIDS virus. The female percentage of HIV/AIDS cases is rapidly increasing, mainly because of their husbands. Over the past 20 years we have seen a huge increase in the number of female HIV/AIDS afflicted patients,” he said.

Dr. Edirisinghe said Sri Lanka was one of the few countries in South Asia where blood is examined thoroughly before use in any transfusion. He said only four cases of AIDS had been reported as a result of blood transfusion.“We can prevent the spread of AIDS by carrying out thorough checks on blood samples but unprotected sex can only be controlled if an individual makes up his or her mind to take preventive methods,” he said.

While pointing out that awareness programmes against AIDS has been a success because of Sri Lanka’s high literacy rate and strong religious and cultural background, Dr. Edirisinghe however added that the younger generation was vulnerable largely due to easy access to pornography, increasing number of drug users and the seamy side of the tourism industry.