The National STD and AIDS Campaign has reported a concerning increase in HIV/AIDS diagnoses among adolescents, with 40 children newly diagnosed last year. Dr. Vino Dharmakulasinghe, an STD specialist, noted that the elderly population affected by the disease numbers 3,169.
The report highlights a rise in the overall number of people living with HIV, which increased from 607 in 2022 to 694 in 2023, reflecting a 14 percent surge. Of these 694 individuals, 613 are male.
Dr. Dharmakulasinghe also pointed out a notable rise in AIDS cases within the 15 to 24 age group, indicating a troubling trend in the spread of the disease among young people.
