50% male STI patients are HIV-positive in Blantyre

BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR

Secretary for Health Yussuf Hassan has disclosed that over 50 percent of male sexually transmitted infections (STIs) patients receiving treatment at Blantyre’s Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) are HIV positive.

Hassan made the revelation in Lilongwe during the week when he opened a six-day private sector STI training workshop, which was organized by Malawi Business Coalition against Aids (MBCA).

The women are not spared the scourge either as the PS revealed that a high prevalence of STIs is found in most population groups even among those considered to be at low risk for STIs such as women.

“While antenatal women are considered to be at the low-risk end of the spectrum, STI patients are at high risk for HIV infection,” Hassan said.  

“There are two reasons for this high rate of HIV in STI patients. First, HIV is also sexually transmitted disease and is, therefore, transmitted the same was as STIs. Those with multiple partners and don’t use condoms correctly and constitently are likely to contract HIV, another STI or both...,” he add.

The PS further said STI patients are more likely to be infected with HIV because “STIs are independent risk factors for HIV transmission”.

“The risk of sexual transmission of HIV is increased by five to 10 times in the presence of an STI. While this increased risk is highest in the presence of ulcerative disease such as syphilis, chancroid, herpes, non-ulcerative diseases such as gonorrhoea, Chlamydia and trichomonas infections are also known to increase the risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV during sexual contact,” he explained.

Despite the horrifying revelation, Hassan commended MBCA for playing a critical role in the fight against sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV and Aids in the country.

He noted that MBCA has done a lot in mobilizing resources for treatment and care of patients suffering from STI, HIV and Aids, saying government alone “cannot meet all the demands, and we appreciate the extra effort you take in mobilizing the resources to improve service provision.”

END