Sri Lanka statement on HIV_AIDS
at ECOSOC Session in Geneva
Permanent Mission of Sri
Lanka - Switzerland
30th July 2007
Sri Lankan delegation states that the country has successfully managed
to control and contain the HIV epidemic on 27th July 2007 under Agenda
item 7 (h) at Substantive Session of the Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC) held in Geneva.
Here is the full text of the Statement.
Statement by Sri Lanka delegation (by Mr. O.L. Ameerajwad, Counsellor)
under Agenda item 7 (h) at Substantive Session of ECOSOC 2007 on 27
July 2007
Mr. President,
First of all let me thank the deligation of Thailand for introducing
this resolution in thier capacity as Chair of UNAIDS PBC. This is an
important and timely initiative. My delegation is pleased to join as
one of the co-sponsors of this resolution.
Mr. President,
Sri Lanka has successfully managed to control and contain the HIV epidemic.
We have been able to produce good health indicators, and effectively
control communicable diseases some of which have reached elimination
status. We are also responding to mitigate the effects on those who
are already afflicted.
Twenty years after the first case of the disease was detected in my
country, the island still has a low HIV prevalence rate. AIDS affects
less than 0.1 percent of the general population, and less than one percent
of high-risk groups.
The factors contributing to the low infection figures in Sri Lanka
are comparatively low levels of casual sex, good access to health services,
successful STD control programmes, low number of injecting drug users
and the generally better social position of women.
At the National level the Government has undertaken many Programmes
to prevent and control the spread ofHIV/AIDS in Sri Lanka. The policy
of the government of Sri Lanka not only addresses HIV/AIDS prevention
and care within a public health and clinical perspective, but also addresses
other social, political, legal and economic factors that contribute
to the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Mr. President.
HIV/AIDS poses one of the most formidable challenges to the development,
progress and stability of our respective societies and the world at
large. It requres regional as well as global coordination efforts to
scale up sustainable and intensified HIV/AIDS rsponses.
In this conection, Sri Lanka is honoured to host the 8th International
Aids Conference of Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) next month from 19 to
23 in Colombo. The theme for the 8th ICAAP is "Waves of Change
- Waves of Hope. Within this theme the 8th ICAAP aims to enhance the
local, regional and global response to HIV/AIDS by creating an opportunity
to achieve meaningful exchanges of expertise, experiences, advances,
lessons learnt, challenges faced and successes achieved in HIV/AIDS
programmes. Sri Lanka plans to make this Conference a grand success
and a landmark event in our region. This Conference is expected to attract
over 3000 foreign participants including Ministers of Health from the
Asia Pacific region, officials in related field, representatives of
NGOs, members of the civil society etc. More information regarding this
Conference could be obtained from the website; www. icaap8.lk. This
event shows our commitment on the issues at a time when we are as yet
a low prevalence country.
Thank you
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