The City's health services unit conducts awareness campaigns

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Health unit launches STI awareness week The City's health unit has joined the national department's drive to educate people and raise awareness of sexually transmitted infections. February 13, 2006 By Anish Abraham JOBURG'S health services unit is conducting a citywide awareness campaign on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), between 9 and 18 February. The national Department of Health will officially launch the National Reproductive Health Awareness week in Gauteng on 12 February. The campaign theme for this year is, The Two of Us Can Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections. According to Johannesburg's health services spokesperson, Nkosinathi Nkabinde, it is estimated that about 10 percent of young adults have had at least one STI episode and that repeated episodes are frequent. In general, 25 percent of women have at least one STI episode in their lives. In a bid to control STIs effectively, the City of Johannesburg has enforced the provision of syndromic management of STIs in all of its health facilities. "Syndromic management means a clinical approach in the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections," Nkabinde says. Control and management of STIs is a key intervention in the fight against HIV and Aids, and is one of the main strategies used in efforts to reduce new HIV infections. "The campaign will also be conducted at shebeens and taxi ranks in some parts of Johannesburg," said Aletta Suping, spokesperson for the City.   She added that the fight to reduce the spread of HIV/Aids and sexually transmitted infections requires changes in attitude and behaviour of all.   A number of schools will be targeted, and the City will also conduct a door-to-door campaign in the inner city areas of Hillbrow and Yeoville. Sexually transmitted infections An STI is a disease that is passed from one person to another through intimate sexual contact. An STI can be passed from female to male, male to female, male to male, female to female through intercourse and other intimate sexual contact, for example oral sex or anal sex. A lot of people with STIs do not have symptoms, and a person who has been treated may not tell a partner they have been infected. "You may not be able to tell if someone is infected just by looking at him or her," Nkabinde explains. The more sexual partners a person has, the greater the risk of contracting a STI, some of which can have long-term complications such as infertility and cancer. "You can protect yourself from STIs by using a condom every time you have sex, as quality condoms are available from local clinics and hospitals at no cost," he adds. Johannesburg's health services urges residents to visit their nearest primary healthcare clinics should they have any queries about STIs or HIV and Aids. Alternatively, they can phone the toll-free 24-hour Aids helpline on 0800 012 322. For more information from health services, contact the City of Joburg's health administration offices at: Region 1 & 2: 011 203 3321/24 Region 3: 011 881 6316 Region 4: 011 718 9656/7 Region 5: 011 761 0257 Region 6: 011 986 0164 Region 7: 011 531 5513 Region 8: 011 376 8633 Region 9: 011 681 8129 Region 10: 011 989 8077 Region 11: 011 211 8800 Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za