In developing countries, STDs and their complications rank in the top five disease categories for which adults seek health care. Infection with STDs can lead to acute symptoms, chronic infection and serious delayed consequences such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy, cervical cancer and the untimely death of infants and adults.
Global Prevention- For WHO it is important to instruct countries how to prevent STD’s from spreading around, so they endorsed strategy for prevention and control of STD in May 2006 .The strategy urges all countries to control the transmission of STDs by implementing a number of interventions, including the following:
- Prevention by promoting safer sexual behaviours
- General access to quality condoms at affordable prices
- Promotion of early recourse to health services by people suffering from STIs and by their partners
- Inclusion of STI treatment in basic health services
- Specific services for populations with frequent or unplanned high-risk sexual behaviours - such as sex workers, adolescents, long-distance truck-drivers, military personnel, substance users and prisoners
- Proper treatment of STIs, i.e. use of correct and effective medicines, treatment of sexual partners, education and advice
- Screening of clinically asymptomatic patients, where feasible; (e.g. syphilis, chlamydia)
- Provision for counselling and voluntary testing for HIV infection;
- Prevention and care of congenital syphilis and neonatal conjunctivitis; and
- Involvement of all relevant stakeholders, including the private sector and the community, in prevention and care of STIs.
