These and other data of general interest were presented yesterday at a press conference where The Pontevedra College of Pharmacists has unveiled its new campaign: “Break the chain of contamination.”
The initiative aims to inform and raise awareness among young people about using STD protection. Thus, information posters will be hung in pharmacies in the region and leaflets will be distributed. Pharmacists know that the younger population is the least likely to go to such establishments, so the idea is that it is adults who send this material to their children or acquaintances.
The President of the College of Pharmacists, Beatriz García Iglesias, assured that the campaign arose after she became aware of the latest data released by the World Health Organization WHO, according to which an estimated 374 million people worldwide are infected with some STDs (2020 data), 23 million in Europe.
A particular effect is observed on the male sex, with the exception of the case of chlamydia.
“This epidemiological situation is also reflected at the level of Galicia, according to the Main Directorate of Public Health of the Ministry of Health, with an incidence per 100 thousand inhabitants of 29 people infected with gonococcal infection, eight with syphilis and an extremely alarming indicator. a figure that amounts to 58 infections per 100,000 inhabitants due to chlamydia,” García Iglesias warned.
Thus, he warned of “high levels of increase in incidence, about 20%, of major sexually transmitted infectionsin a very short period of time, during the last two years, with a particular effect on the male sex, with the exception of the case of chlamydia, which corresponds to the female sex in 60% of cases.
The increase in the incidence of this type of disease is much more pronounced in the age segment from 20 to 24 years.
This increase, as indicated by the president of the province of pharmacists, is associated with the detection of cases in surveys that were not previously carried out, but “also with loss of fear of HIV, increased risk of sexual practices and an alarming rise in antibiotic resistance.”
“This is not an individual problem, but rather a public health problem due to its high incidence and potential consequences, so we have developed a project whose main goal is to offer information to the population, especially young people, about the various and most common STDs.” and how to prevent them. The main goal of the campaign is not only to inform, but also to raise awareness among young people about the importance of protection,” he concluded. For this reason, the campaign targets teenagers, the population group that is most at risk.
Pharmacists are concerned about the low level of knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases. This was admitted by Adrian Acuña, a member of the provincial college, who noted that “especially among young people who seem to have access to more information.” “We are concerned about the lack of information as it could lead them into real risky situations. With this initiative we want to reach the entire population, but especially the youngest, because they need clear, direct and reliable information based on scientific evidence,” he says. For this reason, in addition to posters and brochures in pharmacies, the campaign will pilot in October in three educational centers of the province (urban, suburban and rural) in collaboration with Xunta de Galicia. These conversations will be targeted at students aged 13 to 15 and, if the outcome is satisfactory, the possibility of expanding them to more institutions will be explored.
Useful tips
The brochures, now available in pharmacies across the province, provide helpful tips on proper condom use, clearly explain the most common symptoms of STDs in both men and women, and provide a series of common questions and answers. . The top three pieces of advice are highlighted on these forms with three phrases: “Resist pressure not to use a condom,” “Always use a condom,” and “Alcohol and drug use impairs your ability to make decisions.”