Dr. Kamalika Abeyratne: Tireless campaigner for HIV/AIDS awareness

Dr. Kamalika Abeyratne campaigned tirelessly to create awareness about HIV/AIDS, and stood for the rights of People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA’s) in Sri Lanka. She campaigned vigorously against stigma and discrimination faced by People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA’s). Further she advocated to make the drugs free of charge for the People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA’s) in Sri Lanka. Under the circumstances the pediatrician Dr. Kamalika Abeyratne was subjected to HIV infection

We have gone to the top of information technological revolution. But the fear of the deadly disease is staggering. Though the rate of AIDS, which is due to the HIV infection, is much less in Sri Lanka, yet many are unable to get rid of the fear of the disease. Those who are infected with HIV do not like to reveal it. If revealed many fear there would be no treatment for it and would be ostracized from the society.

A National award was conferred on Late Dr. Kamalika Abeyartne by the former President Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in 2005.Dr.Kamalika Abeyratne was honoured by the then President Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga for the medical service, she rendered to the society on the International Women’s Day in 2000.She was hounoured with an award by AIDS Coalition for Care, Education, and Support Services (ACCESS) in 1999, for her dedicated service to create awareness about HIV/AIDS in Sri Lanka. And Zonta Club recognized her with an award in 2000.

Late Dr. Kamalika Abeyratne’s father was a well known Professor George Wickramasuriya. She was a role model for the People Living With HIV/AIDS. She was a cheerful soul with a charming smile always.

Dr. Kamalika Abeyratne passed away on December 10th 2004.

The following intervie was published in Sunday Thinakkual of June 03 rd 2001. It’s been reproduced here to pay tribute to Late Dr.Kamalika Abeyratne on World AIDS Day, which falls on December 01st 2006:

Q: How are you helping those who are infected with HIV/AIDS?

A: Due to the social structure, one who is infected with HIV is relevant to get the blood test done, or fear to tell, or hesitate to tell outside that he or she is infected to HIV. Under these circumstances it is difficult to tell exactly how many are infected with this virus. Yet you have to say that HIV is fast spreading. During the last several years, one who is infected with HIV infection there is no sign of AIDS liable to spread it to others. So it is a very dangerous disease.

Further more, one who is infected with HIV has to reveal that he or she is infected with HIV. If he or she accepts and says that he or she is infected with HIV, then we can help him or her.

In the meantime, some of those who were in Sahara House, the non governmental organization in New Delhi, the capital of India, called us on telephone and asked us to collect all information about those who were affected by HIV/AIDS. We told them to contact the Mind and Heart centre and get all the information. About 10 -15 of them contacted us. We asked them to come on a particular date to a particular place. We expected them and made all arrangements to meet them. But out of those who contacted us on phone not a single person turned up. This is very unfortunate. It is very regrettable and disappointing. Under these circumstance how can we help them?

Q:How do you compare the HIV/AIDS status in Sri Lanka with our neighbouring countries in the region?

A:When we look at our neighboring countries, our country is the one that is the least affected by HIV/AIDS spreading rate in the region. But in countries like India and Philippines, those who are affected by infectious disease get together and form organization to improve their conditions. But in our country there is no cooperation to our efforts. In the school syllabus, the health education regarding reproduction be included forth withy. We do not like to have a healthy discussion about sex, or sexuality in our society.

During the international conference held in Chennai, in India, some mantras shouted saying “Where are the protective sheaths?”, “We have not been supplied with productive sheaths”, “We do not have sufficient productive sheaths”. This matter is being talked about freely to this extent in India. They are also taking measure to prevent HIV/AIDS.

An Irish woman who owns a small industry, has given worth opportunities to those who are infected with HIV –Aids. These girls attend school and study. They are also given opportunity to earn. It has to be mentioned that the bags made by these girls are being sold in a big shop, that sells attractive things like “Body shop” you can also see “sex is fun, but stay with one” printed in those bags.

Q:How are you treated by the society?

A:It is very unfortunate that I got an infectious disease like HIV.This is very unfortunate and vexatious. Because of my love for children I started practicing as a pediatrician from the time I passed out in 1959, from the medical college. I started practicing in the historic city of Anuradhapura, and Gampaha. From 1968 I worked for two decades at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital in Colombo. Further from 1980 my husband Michael who is also a pediatrician, and I were attending to the medical needs of the needy people in the remote villages in Sri Lanka. After some years we went to Saudi Arabia and served for five years at King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Al Gassim, Saudi Arabia from 1990-1994 and worked as a Senior Consultant Pediatrician, and returned to serve in the country.

In 1995 when we were going to Tangalle to serve the medical needs for “Nawajeevana”, the home based rehabilitation programme for the handicapped, we met with a fatal car accident. Due to the serious injuries, which left Dr. Kamalika Abeyratne with HIV positive after a blood transfusion at Karapitiya Hospital. The blood belonged to one who was infected with HIV due to this I was also infected with HIV. It was the beginning of the end of my life.

The President of Sri Lanka Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaramatunga has taken action to supply me with the necessary medicine for five years. I am very much obliged to her. She ordered a helicopter to bring us back from Tangalle to Colombo. But due to the bad weather the helicopter could not land in Tangalle. We came to Koggala airstrip, and from there we were flown to Colombo.

The news started to spread like wild fire immediately, when I was found HIV positive. Thus started our trauma. The nursing homes refused to admit me, except Asiri Nursing Home, and Oasis Nuring Home later. Then I went to London for further treatment.

I had my family’s fullest support and care with love along with my friends, and colleagues. But other People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA’s) have to undergo more trauma than I have gone through. Because our social set up is such. They have to face stigma and discrimination, which lead to several problems. The society is not in anyway uniting them or comforting them. We should take care of People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA’s) without any discrimination. We should treat them as equal citizens of the country.