25 years have rolled by since the first AIDS victim was identified. The number of people who have died due to AIDS is quite enormous. This is a decease that affects the poor countries and their economy.

Countries that are in the North of Sahara desert in the African continent are the worst affected ones. A few years ago, it was only South Africa that was very badly hit by this disease. But today, India is the country that is worstly affected by this ailment.

Another distressing fact is that a large number of persons affected by this serious illness are ignorant of the fact that they suffer from such a disease. It is revealed that persons between the ages of 5 and 49 are the ones who are badly hit by this ailment.

The average life span of the people in the counties that are affected by this disease has dropped to 40. Every day 1800 children, most of whom are newly born babies, are infected with this disease and most of them pass away before they reach the age of 5.

Asia has still not realised the seriousness of this disease. This was the concern expressed by political leaders and medical men on the World AIDS Day at Bangkok two years ago. It is appropriate to recall it now.

It is feared that Asia will be affected in the same way that Africa is already affected. AIDS is a time bomb of India and it can explode in any moment. If it explodes in that manner the entire South Asian countries will face a serious crisis.

An English translation of the Editorial in Thinakkural, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo

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