COLOMBO: An attempt to sabotage the 08th International Congress on AIDS in the Asia\Pacific region had came a cropper, with as many as 2,500 delegates from more than 70 countries attending the event, Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition Nimal Siripala de Silva said.
The 08th ICAAP got off the ground at the BMICH under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa with a large gathering of local and foreign delegates, and the deliberations to be continued till August 23.
Minister De Silva describing the Congress as the biggest health event in Sri Lanka's recent history thanked all delegates for attending despite some countries issuing travel warnings to Sri Lanka. Describing this as an attempt to tarnish the image of the country by some elements based on mere rumours, the Minister said that all that had come a cropper in the face of the overwhelming response received for the 08th ICAAP.
Welcoming all delegates from Asia\Pacific and beyond Minister De Silva invited them all to enjoy traditional Sri Lankan hospitality during the period of their deliberations while urging them to spread the truth when they go back, in countering the false and malicious propaganda against the country by certain sections.
Attributing Sri Lanka's low prevalence status to correct leadership and decisions the Minister said that this was not a reason to be complacent as the country had all the attributes which could propel the menace to an epidemic status.
Sri Lanka's recent stats show that HIV\AIDS affects less than 0.1% of the population with 872 diagnosed as HIV positive and 270 going on to develop full blown AIDS out of which 162 have died.
Sri Lanka's achievements in the sphere of Health have put the country in par with developed nations, the Minister pointed out while emphasising the need to grow on the achievements.
The Minister also said that the political leadership to this effect was provided with the President himself at the helm of AIDS Council in Sri Lanka.
The Congress is to discuss all relevant issues pertaining to HIV\AIDS during the four-day deliberations with the intention of making it a springboard for achieving the desired goals in Prevention and Treatment of HIV\AIDS.
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