By Chisomo Sezi & Everister Lungu
Health authorities are being urged to intervene as Mzimba Boma records 2,800 Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in the past five months alone, sparking concerns over rising infection rates.
It is a pressing issue- Lungu PIC Chisomo Sezi
The Dermatology and STIs Coordinator at the Mzimba DHO, Dan Kwacha, revealed this in an interview with Good Morning Africa News on Saturday.
He emphasized the need for swift action to curb the growing number of STIs, adding that despite efforts to distribute more condoms to the youth, the rising cases are overwhelming.
"Despite distributing more condoms, especially among young people, we are still seeing a significant increase in STI cases. In the past five months, we've registered 2,800 infections," said Kwacha.
He noted that one of the contributing factors to the surge is a shortage of STI medications, which has made it difficult for patients to complete their treatment.
“Many people diagnosed with STIs do not receive the full course of treatment, which hinders effective management of these infections. It’s critical that we provide all the necessary medications to those in need,” he added.
Kwacha called for additional strategies to address the rising STI cases and urged young people to take better care of their sexual health to prevent further spread.
Meanwhile, Tovwirane Organization’s Project Officer, George Lungu, pointed out that the spike in infections is also due to a lack of adequate sexual health information.
He said despite the organization’s efforts to distribute contraceptives, the situation remains concerning.
"Many young people prefer using emergency contraceptive pills and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) rather than condoms. While these methods may protect against HIV, they do not prevent other STIs, which may be contributing to the rising infection rates,” said Lungu.
Lungu emphasized the importance of conducting thorough surveys to identify the root causes of the surge in STI cases and called for closer collaboration between the Ministry of Health and various organizations to tackle this pressing issue.
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