Rights activists oppose compulsory testing

for AIDS
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi-Sunday, December 13, 2015
Consultant veneorologist claims Sri Lanka has low prevalence of HIV cases

With much attention being focused on an increase in the number of men, women and
deficiency Virus (HIV), human rights activists are up in arms against suggestions that
compulsory testing should be carried out on students in all universities and those in
Advanced Level classes.
While activists are adamant that not only
such compulsory testing but also picking out
categories such as university students and
schoolchildren is unacceptable, claiming that
usually such hype comes around December
1 which is World AIDS (Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome) Day.

Welikada prisoners participating in an HIV awareness walk last

week. Pic by Amila Gamage

It is a rational voice among venereologists,

however, which cleared the air and put the HIV situation in Sri Lanka in context, while
also pledging the support of the Sri Lanka College of Venereologists in guiding the
country towards the elimination of AIDS.
Sri Lanka remains a low HIV prevalence country, stressed Consultant Venereologist
Dr. G. Weerasinghe who is part of the National STD/AIDS (Sexually Transmitted
Diseases/Aqcuired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) Control Programme.
Explaining what low prevalence means, Dr. Weerasinghe, a former President of the
Sri Lanka College of Venereologists said that it is when the number of those affected
by HIV/AIDS is below 1% among pregnant women and 5% among high-risk behaviour
groups in a particular country.
Before dealing with the strong measures Sri Lanka has taken to curb the spread of
HIV/AIDS, he turns to numbers and the recent concerns expressed over a rise in
those affected by HIV/AIDS.
The cumulative (successive additions which bring about the current total) number of
people detected with HIV/AIDS since the very first case in 1987, amounts to 2,241 as

at the end of the third quarter (September) this year. (See graphic)
The so-called rise
in numbers,
according to Dr.
Weerasinghe, could
be due to two
reasons. It may be
due to new
infections or the
more likely
possibility is that
with extensive
awareness and
testing in place,
more people are
getting themselves
tested, with old
infections being
detected now.
In 2014 alone,
close to 900,000
tests have been
carried out for HIV,
the Sunday Times learns.
Referring to the modes of HIV/AIDS transmission in Sri Lanka, Dr. Weerasinghe
details them as occurring through blood transfusions, from mother-to-child and a
majority, about 95%, through sexual interaction.
What has Sri Lanka done to stymie HIV transmission?
Not a single blood unit is transfused without screening for HIV, points out Dr.
Weerasinghe, with the latest virus screening technology covering both antigens and
antibodies and drastically reducing the window period which was earlier six months,
to a few days and few weeks. (The window period is the gap between potential
exposure to the HIV infection and the test giving an accurate result.)
The elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV has been carried out parallel
with the battle against syphilis, it is learnt.
Usually, there are between 350,000 to 400,000 pregnancies each year and in 2014,
168,221 mothers were screened, with five being detected with HIV and administered
anti-retroviral therapy, successfully preventing the virus from being transmitted to their
babies.
The target is to screen all pregnant women for HIV by the end of next year, in keeping

with global efforts to have an AIDS-free generation.

Lastly, this Venereologist deals with the commonest and main mode of transmission
sexual transmission.
With an active network of STD/AIDS Control Clinics, the main emphasis with regard to
the prevention of sexual transmission of HIV was the promotion of condoms until 2011.
But from that year, peer-led targeted interventions were carried out among the four
vulnerable groups of female sex workers, men who have sex with men (MSM), beach
boys and drug users who have been categorised as the drivers of the HIV epidemic.
Four thousand six hundred female sex workers, 6,000 MSM, 1,200 beach boys and
8,000 drug users were empowered under this five-year programme, it is learnt, with
impressive results.
This is the way forward, firstly making the public aware on prevention to deal with the
generalised HIV epidemic and tackling the drivers to deal with the concentrated HIV
epidemic.
In the latter category, peer-leaders were trained on preventing the spread of HIV while
also getting their support in encouraging members of these vulnerable groups to get
themselves tested, he added.
The success of Sri Lankas HIV prevention and control programme has been
commended in the World Health Organisations Report on global sexually transmitted
infection (STI) surveillance 2013.
Singling out Sri Lanka and Cuba, the report sketches what achievements are possible,
even in settings with limited resources, in the implementation of comprehensive STI
control interventions.
Countries such as Cuba and Sri Lanka offer a basic set of quality STI services that
are widely accessible and include outreach to high-risk settingsCommon to these
examples are large and sustained STI reductions over time and a strong commitment
to prevention and control of HIV.
The three critical areas covered, according to the report, are availability and
accessibility of basic STI services of good quality to all who need them; urgent steps
being taken to reduce high-incidence transmission in sex work and MSM networks;
and reliable incidence and prevalence data from high-risk and general population
groups being routinely monitored to guide programme efforts.
It states: When these three pieces come together, STI transmission can be slowed
rapidly, bringing multiple benefits in terms of averted complications and fewer HIV
infections. The experience of Sri Lanka can be described all the way from the 1970s to
the present.
STIs have been in decline over decades and were already low in the 1980s when HIV

emerged globally. Continued strengthening of STI control and further declines helped
to avert emergence of an HIV epidemic despite multiple factors, including an
uncircumcised male population and a protracted civil war, that have facilitated growth
of HIV epidemics in other countries.
STI control efforts in Sri Lanka are organised around STI clinics at district hospitals
and linked to strong primary health care services in communities, such that STI
services include both clinic- and community-based activities.
AIDS spreading to youngsters?Are more and more schoolchildren contracting HIV/AIDS?
The data do not reveal this, stresses Dr. Weerasinghe, showing tables of
figures to the Sunday Times.
Pointing out that there are 48 schoolchildren who are living with HIV/AIDS
having got the virus through mother-to-child transmission awhile back, not
recently, he says that they are receiving treatment.
There is no need to dramatise this situation or stigmatise the children.
Meanwhile, in the age-group 15-24 years, three new infections have been
detected in those over 19 years old which is a clear indication that they are
not schoolchildren but working youngsters.

The Sri Lanka College of Venereologists is geared to guide the country in a major leap to
eliminate AIDS, assured Dr. Weerasinghe, pointing out that extensive internal discussions are
on and a report is being compiled.The way forward is:
- Promotion of HIV testing with clear targets at community-level,
healthcare settings, migrant returnees and outreach programmes.
- From June 2016 onward to test and treat all found to be HIV Positive,
irrespective of what their viral-load is.
- From 2016 onward, to screen all pregnant women.
- Continue targeted interventions among female sex workers, men who
have sex with men, beach boys and drug-users.
-Launch a communication strategy, social marketing of services and
condom promotion.
- Improve services including human resources, logistics and infrastructure
to combat sexually transmitted diseases.
-Strengthen stakeholder involvement.
-Improve the management of co-infections such as Tuberculosis and
Hepatitis B.
- Improve monitoring and evaluation, surveillance and research.
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