The Health Ministry’s National Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Control Programme is holding discussions with the Education Ministry to expand education on contraception use and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention in schools.

“The programme and its clinics will be visiting schools to educate students to talk about HIV prevention,” Consultant Venereologist at the programme Dr. Vino Dharmakulasinghe told The Daily Morning yesterday (27). 

“We are also in discussions with the Ministry in order to extend knowledge on contraception use and HIV prevention in school education while providing age appropriate sex education.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), HIV is a virus that targets the body’s white blood cells and weakens the immune system. The WHO and the Ministry state that HIV patients may be more susceptible to illnesses such as tuberculosis and bacterial infections which could lead to their death.

Dr. Dharmakulasinghe said that despite treatment for HIV being available in Sri Lanka, the lack of knowledge of contraception has made prevention arduous. “We always advise people to wear a condom if they are sexually active; however, we have often seen that many people do not have the adequate knowledge to protect themselves,” Dharmakulasinghe added.

Meanwhile, former Head of the Women Parliamentarians Caucus and Member of the Parliamentary Caucus for Children Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle stated that despite contraception use and HIV prevention being taught in schools, the material on it in the relevant textbooks was very limited. “The material on contraception and HIV prevention is very superficial and these aspects were not explored in detail,” Fernandopulle told The Daily Morning.

A series of books on reproductive health and sex education along with a series of digital media programmes were introduced for schoolchildren in the country. This series was prepared by a special committee appointed by the Ministries of Health, Education, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, under the guidance of the Parliamentary Caucus for Children.

It was reported that there has been a 14% increase in HIV cases last year (in 2023) in comparison to 2022 with most HIV cases affecting males aged 20 to 30, while there have been 4,100 adults and children living with HIV in Sri Lanka as of December 2023.

The Ministry stated that with treatment and preventive care and education, it hopes that the country will be HIV free by 2030.