The Dumaguete Health Office has reported an increase in the number of sexually transmitted infections diagnosed at the city social hygiene clinic, from 2005 to the third quarter of this year.

City health officer Ma. Sarah Talla, at a forum held Wednesday, said however that they cannot ascertain yet if the increase was due to an actual increase in cases, or because of an increased awareness on STI with more people are now going to the clinic to have themselves checked.

Records from the CHO show that diagnosis on cases of Vaginitis secondary to Trichomoniasis increased from two in 2005, five in 2006 to seven this year.

Candidiasis cases likewise rose from only one in 2005 to three in 2006 and seven this year, records added.

Gonorrhea cases went up to 12 in 2006 from only four in 2005. There are six gonorrhea cases diagnosed as of September this year. One case of genital herpes was diagnosed in 2005.

Talla said the clinic uses a syndromic approach in diagnosing STIs to determine if a client needs to be referred to a doctor for treatment.

In the same period from 2005 to the third quarter of 2007, cases on three commonly encountered syndromes at the CHO are also up, namely vaginal discharges (women), urethral discharges (men) and genital ulcers.

Vaginal discharge cases rose from five in 2005 to 22 in 2006 and 24 in 2007. Urethral discharge cases went up to 12 in 2006 from three in 2005 and this year, seven.

One case of genital ulcer was diagnosed in 2005.

Known before as sexually transmitted diseases, health workers now prefer to call STDs as sexually transmitted infections, said Talla. She added that the city's social hygiene clinic offers a range of services such as medical consultations and counseling for people in prostitution, pre-marriage counseling with emphasis on HIV/AIDS prevention.

Talla said their clients are not all from Dumaguete as others come from Tanjay City , Valencia and Dauin.

Silliman University 's Extension Program has also been working to address the cases of STIs and HIV/AIDS, she said.

The SU extension program under Dr. Fe Sycip-Wale is implementing a three-year project with the same goal outlined in the medium term plan- to maintain HIV prevalence by less than one percent and to lower STI prevalence by 10 percent.*MA

back to top