Staff Reporter
THE Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, has expressed concern about the high rate of Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) cases in the country, with more than 96 000 cases of STIs recorded per year on average over the past five years.
Dr. Shangula explained that this is despite the fact that Namibia has made commendable progress in reducing HIV infections in different population groups and demographics. The minister made these remarks at the launch of the third edition of the National Guidelines for the Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections. The Guidelines were last reviewed in 2008.
The minister explained that the newly revised guideline serves as a crucial tool that will shape the way Namibian healthcare practitioners address and combat the challenges Namibians face in preventing and effectively managing Sexually Transmitted Infections in Namibia.
“I express my sincere gratitude to the United States Agency for International Development as well as Project Hope Namibia for their unwavering support and funding, which supported the review of the Second Edition and the compilation of the Third Edition which we are launching here today. I believe that, through deliberate interventions and programmes, it is possible to successfully reduce the STI burden in our country,” Dr. Shangula said.
He added that since the last review of the Guidelines on STIs in 2008, the landscape of healthcare, technological innovations, and epidemiology have evolved, necessitating a comprehensive re-evaluation and modernization of our approach to the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and management of sexually transmitted infections.
“This revised Guideline aims to equip our healthcare providers with the latest evidence-based practices, ensuring that they are well-prepared to address the challenges presented when patients of different ages present with sexually transmitted infections at different tiers of our health system. The tool will enable our healthcare workers to deliver the highest standard of care to our patients at all times,” Dr. Shangula said.
More than thirty different bacteria, viruses, and parasites are known to be transmitted through sexual contact. More than one million sexually transmitted infections are acquired every day worldwide, and each year, there are an estimated 374 million new infections. The greatest incidences of sexually transmitted infections are linked to syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus, and human papillomavirus.
Dr. Shangula added that the consequences of untreated or undiagnosed sexually transmitted infections can be devastating, leading to severe health complications such as chronic diseases, neurological and cardiovascular diseases, different types of cancers, infertility, premature birth, and stillbirths, as well as an increased risk of HIV transmission.
“It is for this reason that we, as the Ministry of Health and Social Services, together with our partners and the people of Namibia, should spare no efforts to put in place measures that will help us reduce sexually transmitted infections in our communities,” he concluded.
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