13 Feb 2014

The number of people treated for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in 2013 alone, reached a record 120 561.

Speaking at the STIs campaign in Nata on Tuesday, February 11, Nata/Gweta MP, Mr Ryner Makosha said their district recorded the biggest number, with Nata in the lead.

In just three months, Nata treated about 632 cases of STIs, compared to 175 cases in Magapatona and 148 in Thini in Tutume in the same months, he said. Mr Makosha said utreated STIs had more debilitating effects on people's general health, as well as their sexual and reproductive health.

He noted that STIs were the major cause of infertility among women, a cause of ectopic pregnancies that killed women, the death of unborn and new born babies and chronic pain in both men and women.

Mr Makosha said it was an opportune moment for residents of Nata and surrounding areas, to introspect and see what they could do to improve their health and reduce the incidence of STIs. He said most government facilities, if not all, around the country provided services for the diagnosis and treatment of STIs.

“Health care workers have been extensively trained in the management and care of patients presenting with STIs,” he said.

The legislator further noted there were many programmes for STIs prevention available and accessible to all, free of charge such as counseling, provision of free condoms and couple counseling and testing.

He said other biomedical interventions included safe male circumcision, screening, and treatment of syphilis among all pregnant women and free Antiretrovirals, he said. MP Makosha emphasised these services remained of no benefit if they were not utilised.

In addition, he said, it was important that people should be able to recognise the symptoms of STIs and sought care early and get treatment, as well as for people to adhere to treatment and get their partners to also get treated.

This, he said, was the only way that people could break the transmission cycle and prevent reinfection. Mr Makosha said people needed to examine their culture, attitudes and behaviors that put them at risk of acquiring STIs, and the barriers to accessing care and treatment when they needed it.

For her part, Tutume nursing superintendent, Ms Dineo Sisila said the objectives of the campaign were to raise awareness on the current rates and burden of STIs in Nata and Tutume as a district. She said they educated the public about the different STIs of major public health concern and how to recognise them.

Ms Sisila also said they mobilised the community to take the lead in the prevention of STIs and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS programmes and also to disseminate information about the services provided to prevent and reduce the risks of STIs and HIV. ENDS