State health authorities claim that the availability of condoms, access to rapid tests and access to medicines can be guaranteed through different strategies.
news staff
Chiapas confirmed that it has the largest national network of services to promote and provide comprehensive care for sexually transmitted infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and viral hepatitis.
Chiapas Health Minister José Manuel Cruz Castellanos made the announcement within the framework of World Sexual Health Day, warning that hepatitis B, C and Human papillomavirus is related to the occurrence of diseases such as liver cancer and cervical cancer.
He also noted that the most common, curable STIs were syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis; to a lesser extent, genital herpes simplex virus infection.
Likewise, he emphasized that since 2019, in line with the public policy established in the National Development Plan, the network of services focused on sexual health in Chiapas has been strengthened, namely 13 general hospital care services (SAIH) and two outpatient clinics The Center for the Prevention and Care of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (CAPASITS), improving its infrastructure, providing diagnostic technical equipment and assigning medical personnel specialized in infectious diseases, has received quality certification from the Federal Ministry of Health.
As such, he noted that through the National Coordination Center for the Prevention and Control of HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Viral Hepatitis, specific actions have been taken to prevent these diseases, such as the distribution of condoms, the use of express condoms, etc. Tests to detect and access preventive medicines.
In this regard, he mentioned that in 2022, 1 million male condoms, 312,000, 732, 192,000, 803 HIV rapid tests, 138,000, 509 syphilis tests, and 11,000, 844 hepatitis C tests will be distributed. Increased efforts to improve sexual health provided a total of 4,045,400 external condoms, 83,479 internal condoms and 79,046 water-based lubricants, as well as 106,000 rapid HIV tests, 92,750 syphilis tests and 12,270 hepatitis C rapid tests.
In addition to this, the Minister of Health stated that through SAIH and CAPASITS operating at the state level, antiretroviral treatment can be guaranteed for more than 6,800 HIV-infected people, in addition, 546 people are actively involved in health services. . Likewise, 77 patients with hepatitis C have been cured and 16 patients continue to receive treatment.
Finally, the Head of Public Policy in the State Health Sector noted that the Chiapas Department of Health is committed to eliminating AIDS, STIs and viral hepatitis, with interventions that are people-centred and prioritize the most vulnerable.