STIs soar in Gauteng

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have increased dramatically in Gauteng in the last two years, says Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa, Centurion Rekord reports.

Ramokgopa was replying to a DA question in the Gauteng legislature on Wednesday.

Ramokgopa said people between the ages of 20 and 29 were most affected, with more females using public health facilities than males.

DA shadow health MEC Jack Bloom said the statistics were disturbing.

More than 500 000 people were treated for STIs in the last two years in public facilities.

READ MORE:  Mpumalanga Premier worried about spread of HIV and STIs among youth

“It is disturbing that STIs like syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea have increased so sharply. While they are curable, their presence increases the risk of HIV infection.”

He said more efforts were needed to highlight what could be done to prevent STIs, and to provide swift effective treatment to prevent an epidemic among young people.

Ramokgopa attributed the rise to unspecified “social, behavioural and biological factors”.

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https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/mpumalanga-premier-worried-spread-hiv-stis-among-youth/

– Caxton News Service

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