“The transmission of HIV and Syphilis from mother to child was eliminated in Sri Lanka in 2018,” said Consultant Venereologist and National Coordinator for the EMTCT Programme Dr. Lilani Rajapaksa. She was addressing the media at the Health Promotion Bureau Auditorium on Friday.
“After an independent assessment and recommendation by the Regional Committee, WHO will validate and certify Sri Lanka’s achievement by August 2019,” she said.
“The programmes to prevent Syphilis and HIV transmission from mother to child commenced in 1952 and 2002 respectively. The National Endeavour to Eliminate Transmission of HIV and Syphilis from mother to child took place in 2013,” she said.
“Over 95 per cent of the pregnant women had consented to undergo HIV test by 2016,” she said. She said that since 2011, HIV positive pregnant women who received treatment from the Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) clinics had delivered HIV free babies. Mothers infected with either HIV or syphilis are provided treatment and other necessary services during pregnancy, delivery and after the delivery by the government, she said.
The country now has around 3,200 HIV patients and less than 100 child HIV patients. The number diagnosed with Pediatric AIDS (13) in 2013 had reduced to two in 2018, she said.
Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe said that this was a significant achievement towards the goal to eliminate HIV and AIDS by 2025.
Consultant Venerologists Dr. K. A. M. Ariyarathna, Dr. G. Weerasinghe and Dr. J. Elvitigala spoke.
Dr. Palitha Karunaperuma delivered the welcome speech, while Dr. Rasanjalee Hettiarachchi delivered the introductory speech.
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