Colombo, Oct. 15 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka is recording around 1,500 syphilis cases annually, a sharp increase from the 80 to 100 cases reported each year before 2021, Consultant Venereologist Dr. Nimali Jayasuriya said.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Ministry of Health and Mass Media yesterday (14), Dr. Jayasuriya said the rising number of sexually transmitted infections highlighted the need to strengthen disease prevention, screening and treatment services.
She also said Hepatitis B cases had doubled this year compared with the previous year, while Hepatitis C cases were projected to increase approximately fourfold by 2025, according to the figures she cited.
The trends have raised concerns over the growing burden of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in Sri Lanka, alongside the increase in reported HIV cases.
Dr. Jayasuriya, President of the Sri Lanka College of Sexual Health and HIV Medicine (SLCoSHH), identified HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C as major public health concerns requiring sustained national-level intervention.
She said disease-control measures had been implemented effectively until 2021, but the COVID-19 Pandemic had disrupted progress. Reported HIV cases had subsequently increased from 2023, with projections pointing to a continued rise through 2026.
Among the factors contributing to the situation were unsafe sexual practices, increased drug use, particularly injecting drug use, and the economic and social effects of the pandemic, she said.
Dr. Jayasuriya stressed the importance of awareness programmes and preventive measures, noting that existing initiatives had not been sufficient to contain the growing problem.
Sri Lanka has modern HIV prevention and treatment options, including free treatment services, which could support efforts to reduce transmission and improve health outcomes, she said.
The Ministry's media briefing also focused on the 31st Annual Academic Sessions and Conference of the SLCoSHH, scheduled for October 29 to 31 at the ITC Ratnadipa Hotel.
The conference, organised jointly with the British HIV Association, will focus on advancing sexual health and HIV medicine through collaboration and innovation.