By Sexually transmitted disease detections are sharply increasing due to unprotected sex.
There are many newcomers to the sex work industry due to the prevailing economic crisis.
The increase of STDs and AIDS is largely among drug users and the homosexual community. According to the National STD/AIDS Control Programme, the recent increase is exceeding ten percent with an upward trend.
4,556 HIV patients have been recorded in the first quarter of 2022 up 11.8 percent from 4,073 in 2021 first quarter.
In the second quarter of 2022, 4,686 HIV patients have been identified, up 13.2 percent from 4,142 in 2021.
Geetha Samaraweera (Consultant Venereologist) National Coordinator of the Sri Lanka Sexual Transmitted Diseases Unit (STDU) told EconomyNext that newcomers to the industry may have higher rates of infection.
“The new ones are young and they are not knowledgeable about the safety methods. They are less experienced and do not know how to convince the clients to use safety methods.
