A survey conducted by Health Authorities as a prelude to combat the deadly HIV AIDS spread has discovered that there are 40,000 prostitutes, 35,000 Homosexuals and an unaccounted number of Lesbians in the country.
Director AIDS Control Unit, Dr. Nimal Ekanayake said these figures were only confined to four districts. In Colombo there are 8,000 prostitutes from the poorer to the affluent class.
Medical sources ruled out the spread of AIDS among Lesbians stating that woman to woman sexual contact had no chances to contract the decease. The survey covered Colombo, Anuradhapura, Nuwara Eliya and the Batticaloa Districts. Another survey in 13 more districts will be conduct in next year.
Nearly 200,000 persons inflicted by venereal diseases following sexual contact seek treatment at Government Hospitals, Dr. Ekanayake said. Although 1,388 patients have proved positive for AIDS, only 775 of them attend clinic for treatment, lamented Dr. Ekanayake. Of the total, 300 patients undergo special treatment at the HIV AIDS Unit.
Medical sources claimed that Lesbianism was rampant and it expanded in Colombo girls’ school hostels, University hostels and private hostels. Such an expansion of this abnormal anti-social mania was also spreading in cities such as Kandy, Galle, Kalutara, Matara and the far distant city of Anuradhapura
Lankapuvath