SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews/24 March) – A total of 318 persons were infected with sexually transmitted diseases last year in the city, according to records at the City Health Office.
There were 302 recorded cases in 2013, Jessica Nepomuceno, social hygiene clinic nurse at the CHO said.
Topping the list for 2014 is bacterial vaginosis, which tallied 185 cases, slightly lower than the 188 cases recorded in 2013.
Cases of gonorrhea reached 68 last year compared to only 55 in 2013
Trichomoniasis infected 21 people in 2013 and 18 others in 2014.
Nepomuceno said 38 persons got non-gonococcal infection in 2013 while 47 person had it last year.
She warned that while the use of condoms may prevent transmission of the disease it does not guarantee full protection.
She said the best defense against STDs is to remain faithful to one’s partner.
Meanwhile, at least 25 people have been found positive of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Surigao del Norte since 2007, according to Department of Health-Caraga.
Of the 25 persons, 11 of them are from Surigao City, three of whom have been confirmed to have progressed into Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
The rest of the HIV-infected individuals came from different towns of Surigao del Norte such as Dapa, Del Carmen, Pilar, Gigaquit, Sison, Burgos and Bacuag. (Roel N. Catoto/MindaNews)