Sexually transmitted infection (STI) is a doorway for infection of HIV. This is a message spread during 10 to 16 February that marked Condom Week/ STI Awareness Month.
The same week was also Pregnancy Awareness Week/ Healthy Lifestyle Awareness Day and later that month was Waste Care Awareness Week, according to Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital’s Health Calendar.
STI is an illness caused by transmission of infection through sexual intercourse.
Agang SA says an infected person should head to a clinic immediately for medical assistance.
The control and management of STI is a key intervention in the fight against HIV/Aids and is one of the main strategies used to reduce infections.
Residents are encouraged to visit Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital’s Antenatal Clinic to be tested for sexually transmitted infections and HIV/Aids.
Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital and its board members are in full support of the Integrated Chronic Disease Model from the West Rand District Health.
We will be working with those facilities that have been identified in recognition of the week through outreach programmes to sensitise the community about the importance of having one sexual partner, using condoms and treating STIs
What I realised as a member of Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital Board as Head of Communication, is that some people fear being stigmatised, therefore they become reluctant to treatment when they experience symptoms such as an itching vagina, pain in the lower abdomen and pain during sex or when urinating, an abnormal colour (green or yellow) discharge, ulcers, warts, blisters on the vulva or vagina, anus, mouth or penis.
During the treatment process we urge patients to test for HIV and we hand out free condoms.
Our intensive and continuous HIV/Aids education has helped to reduce the number of STIs and we believe that this is a sign that people now take their health seriously.
