Council sounds alarm over rising STI strain among young women
By George.Kebaso, April 2, 2024Sexually sexually transmitted Infections are on the rise again, Dr Ruth Laibon Masha, the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) chief executive has revealed.
She has singled out genital Chlamydia trachomatis, a disease the council has termed as a silent epidemic that is ravaging young Kenyan women. She said Chlamydia is among a number of STIs of concern to the Ministry of Health that are clawing back on the gains made in the general fight against HIV and Aids.
“The other challenge we are facing as a ministry is the number of young people getting infected with STIs. In particular, one of the diseases we are calling ‘the silent’ epidemic is Chlamydia,” she said in Naivasha at the weekend where the council took their HIV prevention messaging services at the World Rally Championship (WRC).
More than 20,000 people were tested for HIV and a similar number received various services including commodities such as condoms and other reproductive health services.
Dr Masha explained that doctors have witnessed a lot of infertility cases that have a direct link with Chlamydia infection.
“In this disease once, young people get exposed in their sex debut without protection, what we know is that when they come into their reproductive age, we find a lot of infertility cases,” she said justifying the Council’s presence at events such as the WRC and other large gatherings that are likely to attract young people.