Transmitted Infections and Condom event at Edenburg
14 February 2006
Programme Director,
Ladies and Gentlemen
Programme Director, the second week of every February has been declared the
National Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) week. This year the event is
from 13 to 18 February. During this week, the prevention of STIs is emphasised
and at healthcare facilities the comprehensive syndromic management is
explained to clients. Health workers place great emphasis on the use of barrier
methods during sexual intercourse. Condom distribution is increased as well as
emphasis is place on the distribution of condoms in high transmission
areas.
Our message this week to all is to prevent STIs including HIV and promote
consistent and correct use of condoms. The theme for the week is "just the two
of us can prevent STIs".
The STI programme in the Free State is running well and as it is known, the
Department of Health is using the strategy of Primary Healthcare in providing
health service to the community. This strategy includes syndromic treatment to
clients having Sexually Transmitted Infections. The most important advantage of
this approach is that clients are treated according to what they present with
e.g. discharge or ulcers, there are no blood test needed. Treatment is given
promptly and clients are encouraged to bring their partners for treatment
because the treatment of one partner is not effective as one is prone for
re-infection. Service providers at Primary Healthcare facilities are
professional nurses who are trained in syndromic treatment. So far STI training
has been provided for 119 facilities throughout the Free State during this
financial year. (The goal was to train 50 facilities).
The Clinical Sentinel Surveillance research programme was commenced in 2003.
The aim of this research is to provide additional information regarding the
Sexually Transmitted Infections among our clients. Thirty[e1] sites are
functional throughout the Free State and these sites provide monthly reports to
the departmental research unit through the district Health Information System
programme. The reporting rate was above 90%. This means that data provided
though these facilities is representative of what is transpiring within the
Free State. The results shows, among other things, the vaginal discharges in
females and urethral discharges in males are the predominant syndromes that are
treated within our facilities and also confirm the point that age groups mainly
affected by STIs are between 20-29. In the treatment of discharges partners are
encouraged to be treated as well.
The high transmission area projects are targeting high risk groups within
our communities. These high risk groups include mobile populations, commercial
sex workers, truckers as well as any place where high risk activities like
unprotected sex occur. The goal of the Department is to have at least two
projects running per district. So far seven projects are functioning and
training will be conducted later this month for the other three projects and
these will up and running by the end of the financial year.
The places of the projects are as follows:
* Motheo: Bloemfontein and Van Stadensrus (20 farms)
* Xhariep: Smithfield (20 farms)
* Lejweleputswa: Ventersburg and Harmony mines
* Thabo Mofutsanyana: Harrismith and Bethlehem
The following sites will be functional before the end of the financial
year:
* Xhariep: Springfontein
* Fezile Dabi: Sasolburg and one farm project
The forth leg of our programme focuses on barrier methods. Male condoms have
been proved to be effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy and sexually
transmitted infections. The Department is distributing its own brand that is
the "Choice" condom. From January to December 2006 more than 15 728 160 male
condoms have been distributed, (in 2004 it was 13 329 740 and 2003 10 195 805
were distributed). There was an increase in the primary sites from 10 in 2003,
13 in 2004 and 15 in 2005. The distribution sites have performed well in the
distribution of the male condom. There are a variety of stakeholders who are
involved in the distribution of the male condom such as clinics, business,
non-governmental organisations (NGOs), taverns, farm workers and farmers,
etc.
Female condoms are distributed in conjunction with the male condoms. The aim
of the Department is to increase distribution of the female condom to all
primary healthcare facilities. The hallmark of the female condom is to make
sure that the recipients of this condom make full use of it, this means that
education is the key factor in the distribution. At present there are 23
functional sites that are distributing the female condoms. The number was 18 in
2004. Total female condoms distributed are more than 51 000 in 2005.
Ladies and Gentlemen, in conclusion, I do not need to remind us all that the
fight against HIV and AIDS is a fight we aim to win. We as government cannot
fight all the battles alone. We need the partnerships of men and women in our
province, we need people to start taking aggressive responsibility for their
sexual health, and we need our citizens to rally around protection and need our
youth to make wise choices. The fight against HIV and AIDS can only be won with
the support and collective approach by all partners and for us to make sure
that our future, our youth and our partners remain HIV negative.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are fast approaching 1 March 2006, the day on which
we all need to go to the voting stations to cast our votes in the upcoming
local government elections. I want to appeal to all citizens of the province
eligible to vote to make that all important mark. By expressing your choice for
a political party and a ward candidate you not only contribute significantly to
our growing democracy but also express one of your fundamental human
rights.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the MEC for Health, Free State Provincial
Government
14 February 2006
[e1]At start of sentence all numbers are written out
