At least 34.3 million in the world affected by AIDS in 1999
[01 Dec 2000]

Today is World AIDS day and the World Health Organisation reports that at least 34.3 million in the world are affected by AIDS in 1999. Of this number 17.3 million were men, 15.7 million were women and 3.8 million were children of less than 15 years of age.

Adults and children estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS as of end 1999.

Of these estimates Sri Lanka has between 7500 to 8000 people affected by HIV-AIDS of whom 200 are children. The number of deaths in 1999 due to AIDS was 488.

“ We have a major challenge over the next five years as this virus moves into the large demographic countries of Asia,” says Gordon Alexander, Senior Programme Adviser for UNAIDS in India, where 3.7 million people already live with HIV/AIDS.

According to a UNAIDS report this week, with the epidemic simmering at low levels in Asia there is a risk of complacency.

AIDS-Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome- is a sexually transmitted viral infection that destroys the body’s immunity system allowing other infections to develop with no defence against disease. A virus known as HIV causes AIDS.

Sri Lanka is a low prevalence country as far as the AIDS epidemic is concerned with the number of AIDS cases much fewer than the rest of Asia.

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