MEC Madoda Sambatha in Tswaing Local Municipality to mark STI and condom week during the integrated service delivery campaign

Sexually Transmitted infections and condom week is commemorated on the 12 -16 of February 2022 in order to raise awareness regarding condom usage and STDs as well as to root out stigma and other related infections. A sexually transmitted infection or STI is an infection that is spread from an infected person to another through sexual intercourse (vaginal, oral, or anal sex). The infection can be obtained by having unprotected (without a condom) vaginal, oral, or anal sex with someone who has an STI. It can be difficult to tell if someone has an STI. STIs can be spread even if there are no signs or symptoms.

It is important for one to observe the following sign or symptoms of

STIs:

• Discharge from the penis in men (i-drop) or abnormal discharge from the vagina in women
• Pain on passing urine
• Pain or swelling of the testicles. Infections like gonorrhoea and chlamydia may present like this
• Sores or ulcers in the genital area (that is private parts) or around the anus
• Swellings in the groin- Infections like herpes and syphilis may
• present like this
• Warts in the private parts. These are caused by a virus called
• Certain types of HPV can cause cancer of the uterus in women.

Therefore, if individuals experience such symptoms it is necessary to inform your current or recent sexual partners so that they can also be treated at the clinic. Some viruses like herpes cause life-long infections and may cause repeated sores in the genital area regularly.

Some STIs can easily be cured with treatment, whereas others are treated to manage the symptoms and reduce spread to sexual partners. Treatment may involve taking medicine or getting injections. For other STIs that can’t be cured, like herpes or HIV, medicines can help reduce the symptoms, control the infection and prevent spread to sex partners.

The dangerous part of untreated STIs is that it may cause long-term complications such as ongoing lower abdominal pain, infertility and pregnancy complications like stillbirths and preterm delivery.  If you are not treated for an STI, you can spread the infection to your sex partner, not only that but also may be at increased risk of acquiring HIV, and also of transmitting HIV to partners if they have STI-HIV co-infection.  Therefore, HIV testing and linkage to care is an important part of STI management.  Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of both syphilis and HIV through the screening and treatment of pregnant women is a public health priority.

The best measures to follow to prevent the STIs:

• The best way to protect against STIs is to practice safe sex and to avoid risky sexual behaviour.
• Consistent and correct condom use will protect against STI and also prevent unplanned pregnancy.
• Male circumcision done safely at a clinic or hospital can reduce the risk of HIV and STIs in men.
• A good vaccine is available to protect against HPV, the virus that causes cancer of the uterus in women.

Comparing the rate of HIV Infections between condom users and non-users who have HIV and infections has shown that consistent condom use is extremely effective in preventing transmission of HIV, Similarly, the use of condom reduces the risk of many other STDs according to Epidemiologic studies. Condoms can be expected to provide different levels of protection for various STDs, depending on differences in how the diseases or infections are transmitted. Male condoms may not cover all infected areas or areas that could become infected. Thus, they are likely to provide greater protection against STDs that are transmitted only by genital fluids (STDs such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and HIV infection) than against infections that are transmitted primarily by skin-to-skin contact, which may or may not infect areas covered by a condom (STDs such as genital herpes, human papillomavirus [HPV] infection, syphilis, and chancroid) “Hence, it is important for individuals to go to the clinic for treatment if one suspect any signs and symptoms. Treatment for STIs and provision of condoms is given free of charge at primary healthcare clinics across South Africa. Most STIs are easily treated and cured”, said Madoda Sambatha

Source: Government of South Africa