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Country Profile: Sri Lanka
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AIDS Programmes

National Strategic Framework: 2002-2006

Overview (UNAIDS 2006):
The national response is coordinated by the National STD/AIDS Control Programme (Ministry of Health), which is responsible for planning, monitoring and some implementation and provision of technical guidance at decentralised levels. Coordination in 2005 included support to 47 nongovernmental organisations, religious leaders, ten government departments/ministries and collaboration with major private sector initiatives. The response picked up momentum with new partners and new initiatives during the year. Donors include the World Bank, eight UN agencies and IOM, all of which are represented on the UN HIV/AIDS Theme Group. There has been no bilateral funding to date. Total donor funding in 2005 was US$ 3.2 million (of which US$ 2.3 million was from the World Bank), reflecting an increase in both the breadth of programming and the level of spending.

Country situation changes: the tsunami that affected two thirds of the coastal areas, and renewed political violence in the north and east hindered capacity to work in those areas. Women represent a growing share of new HIV cases, with the current male to female ratio at 1.4:1. Especially vulnerable women include external migrants, sex workers, and those displaced by the conflict and the tsunami. Young people are vulnerable due to their limited knowledge of reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections and HIV and the some reluctance to discuss such issues with youth.

Stigma and discrimination are a major challenge, causing unnecessary social and employment problems for those living with HIV, and discouraging open discourse, use of condoms and respectful treatment of those living with the virus. As noted above, demand for voluntary counselling and testing and even for free antiretroviral treatment is affected by fear of being known to be positive.

Improving the quality of AIDS education is an issue that is now increasingly being addressed. Efforts are being made to strengthen nongovernmental organisation capacity to move beyond provision of awareness programmes to more in-depth, community-specific behaviour change communication activities.

Providing education and services to those believed to be at risk is a challenge that is also receiving increased attention. In light of the stigma associated with marginalised groups, coupled with the fear of AIDS, attention to sex workers and men who have sex with men has so far been limited but is expected to increase in 2006.

HIV/AIDS Organisations

  National STD/AIDS Control Programme
Contact person: Sunil Settinayaka, acting director Tel: +94 11 269 5183
Location: Ministry of Health
29 de /Saram Place
Colombo 8, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 11 269 5183
  Email:
  Web: www.health.gov.lk
What we do: Testing; treatment; education; counselling; training.

  Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka
Contact person: A.M.A. Abeysinghe, executive director Tel: +94 11 258 4153/7
Location: 37/27 Bullers Lane
P.O. Box 365
Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 11 258 0915
  Email:
  Web: www.fpasl.org
What we do: Sexual and reproductive health information; education; counselling.

  National Hospital of Sri Lanka
Contact person: S.H. Weerasinghe, director Tel: +94 11 269 8443
+94 11 269 1111
Location: Ward Place
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 11 2698443
  Email:
  Web:
What we do: Treatment; trials.

 Contact Lanka +
Contact person: Tel: +94 11 755 5229/0
Location: 70/3 Kadawatha Rd
Kalubowila, Dehiwala
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Fax:
  Email:
  Web:  
What we do: Awareness programmes; care and support; counselling; referrals.

 UNDP - HIV and Development Project
Contact person: G Pramod Kumar, sr. programme specialist Tel: +94 11 474 0300/2
Location: Regional Programme for South and North East Asia (REACH Beyond Borders)
UNDP 148, Vauxhall Street
Colombo 2, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 11 474 0306
  Email:
  Web: www.youandaids.org
What we do: Project to raise awareness and understanding of the HIV epidemic and to enhance the region's capacity to respond in an effective and sustainable manner.

 UNAIDS Country Coordinator (Covering Sri Lanka and the Maldives)
Contact person: David Bridger Tel: +94 112 555 270 (Ext. 262)
Location: Mobile: +94 773 444 159
  Fax: +94 112 551 733
  Email:
What we do:

 UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS, Chair
Contact person: Tine Staermose, ILO Tel: +94 112 500 539
Location: 202-204 Bauddhaloka Mawatha
Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 112 580 865
  Email:
  Web:  
What we do:


Treatment Map

Adult HIV Prevalence Rate (%) (Dec. 2006): <0.1
No. Of People living with HIV/AIDS (Dec. 2006, UNAIDS/WHO estimate): <5,000
No. Of HIV Testing & Counseling Sites (Dec. 2006): 26
No. Of People in need of ART:
No. Of People On ART (Dec. 2006): 82
No. Of Sites Reportedly Distributing ARVs (Dec. 2006): 1
No. Of People on ART Public Sector (Dec. 2006): 82
No. Of People on ART Private Sector: n/a
No. Of People on ART in Non-Government Programmes: n/a
No. Of People Expected to be on ART by end 2007: n/a
Front Line Drug Regimen (Dec. 2006): 2 NRTI and 1 NNRTI
*PMTCT Regimen: Nevirapine-based

HIV/AIDS Fund Disbursements:
Total Funds Disbursed By The Global Fund as of February 2007: US$ 8,227,418
Total Funds Disbursed By The World Bank Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Programme (MAP): not applicable
Total Funds Planned for Disbursement By PEPFAR During 2006 Fiscal Year: none

Sources: UNAIDS

Indicators

Demographics (United Nations Population Fund):
Population: 20.9 million
Urban population: 15 percent

Under 5 mortality per 1000 births: 17
Male life expectancy: 72.2 years
Female life expectancy: 77.5 years
Combined average life expectancy: 74.85 years
Combined average life expectancy 1975-1980: approx. 63.1 percent

Education (UNESCO, 2004):
Males with secondary education as percentage of secondary school-age youths: 82 percent
Females with secondary education as percentage of secondary school-age youths: 83 percent

Literacy rates (UNESCO, 2004):
Percentage of literate males aged 15 or older: 92.3 percent
Percentage of literate females aged 15 or older: 89.1 percent
Combined literacy rate for those aged 15 or older: 90.7 percent
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