Condom / Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Awareness Week: 11 - 17 February 2007

" 50 million condoms will be distributed by the Health Department in our province this year. This translates into an average of 22 condoms per adult male. However, the demand for the service is higher in some areas resulting in the supply of up to an average of 100 condoms per adult male in these areas " Minister Uys said today. It is freely available at all our facilities throughout the province and there is no excuse for people to have unprotected sex, Uys said.

Uys said 300 000 female condoms are also freely available at 66 health facilities and women have an equal responsibility to prevent STI's

A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is transmitted from one person to another during unprotected sex. Minister Uys said you can get an STI from having sex only once with an infected partner.

There are more than 20 different types of infection, which can be spread through sexual contact. Some of these are syphilis, gonorrhoea (drop) and herpes. HIV (human immuno-deficiency virus), which causes AIDS, is also considered a sexually transmitted infection. HIV is the most dangerous STI, because it is incurable. There are no visible signs of the illness in the early stages and it may take years before a person becomes ill. During this time the infection can be passed on to sexual partners.

Minister Uys says one in every 10 sexually active persons in SA is infected with an STI. He said that if it is left untreated, STI's can cause :

• infertility
• cancer of the sex organs
• abnormalities or death of unborn babies
• damage to the heart and kidneys
• mental illness.

Minister Uys said people must know their bodies and seek medical treatment at our health facilities when they notice the following signs :

Abnormal discharge from sexual organs. Even a slight watery discharge may be an indication of an STI.

• Sores, warts or blisters around the sex organs, which may be painful or painless.
• Swollen glands near the sex organs.

If a person is diagnosed with an STI or notice some of the signs, he or she must :

• Inform all their sex partners if there are more than one (although this is not recommended) and get them to go for treatment as well, even if they have no signs of any infection
• Take the full course of medicines and do not share it with their partner. That person must get his or her own medicine. If you don't take the full course, you may think you are cured, when in fact you are not.
• Do not have sex during treatment as he or she can still pass on the infection until treatment is completed.
• If you continue to have sex with infected partners, you may become infected again, even after treatment.

Minister Uys said to condomise is the best prevention." Always use a condom when you have sex, as that will greatly reduce your risk of getting an STI"

Issued by:
The Directorate Communications
Office of the Superintendent of Health, Western Cape
Tel: 021 483 3235
Herman van der Westhuizen
Media Liaison Officer to the Minister of Health
Tel: 021 483 2627