 "However, the WHO thinks that by 2030, we will have the means to combat these illnesses. However, there's a catch: nations must intensify their efforts")
According to the UN, sexually transmitted diseases kill 2.5 million people worldwide each year.
Public health issues include HIV, viral hepatitis outbreaks, and sexually transmitted infections.
There are concerns expressed in a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report. An estimated 2.5 million individuals worldwide pass away every year from illnesses like HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Syphilis is one STI that is spreading quickly. In 2022, the number of new cases surged, particularly in the Americas and Africa. According to the article, syphilis can be cured, which makes this particularly worrying.
However, the WHO thinks that by 2030, we will have the means to combat these illnesses. However, there’s a catch: nations must intensify their efforts.
“The rising incidence of syphilis raises major concerns,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Fortunately, there has been important progress on a number of other fronts, including accelerating access to critical health commodities, including diagnostics and treatment. We have the tools required to end these epidemics as public health threats by 2030, but we now need to ensure that, in the context of an increasingly complex world, countries do all they can to achieve the ambitious targets they set themselves.”.
The challenges:
STIs: Over a million new cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis are reported each day due to the rapid spread of these four major STIs. Luckily, there is treatment for them.
Syphilis: The COVID-19 pandemic’s disruptions have been partially associated with an increase in syphilis incidence. Concerns have also been raised over gonorrhoea strains that are resistant to the majority of drugs.
Viral Hepatitis: Although there are therapies for hepatitis B and C, the number of new infections is still significant. Viral hepatitis deaths are also increasing.
HIV: Although the number of new cases is gradually declining, development remains sluggish. The disease mostly affects high-risk populations, and HIV-related deaths continue to be substantial—a tragically high percentage of these deaths include youngsters.