“I have a healthy sex life and I am not a promiscuous woman. But when I had my cytology done, they told me I was a carrier of the human papillomavirus (HPV).. Then when I had my colposcopy, they said I had an injury. I have to get treatment. Fortunately I realized it in time. “
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When I was 22, I started experiencing inflammation around my penis. Even though it didn’t hurt, I was still very scared. When I went to the doctor, he confirmed that I had herpes.
“I started noticing a change in my vaginal discharge. It was like a yellow-green color. Then I started noticing blood when I was peeing. I started thinking, that year, that I was having some sexual disorder, and I was scared. This Prompted me to see a doctor, but I was very scared. I was diagnosed with gonorrhea, an STD that could cause infections in my genitals, rectum, and throat. I was told that having vaginal, anal sex with someone who has the same disease Or you could contract the disease from oral sex. “I never knew who it was. ”
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“A little over two years ago I had a relationship with an older man. After a while I started feeling bad, like weak, and I developed a small open sore or sore on my genitals, and my lymph nodes It was also swollen. When I told him about it he downplayed it, but I think that even though these relationships were consensual, there was some form of violence in these cases.”
“I’m a social worker. I was married to my boyfriend of six years. I only had sex with him, but I left the care to him. Then the symptoms started to show up. I had a fever and started Lose weight. When I went to the doctor they did all the tests and the diagnosis was AIDS. At first it was very difficult but then I realized I had to learn to live with this. Now I am a mother and I work like any other woman . Of course, I will take care of myself and I will take care of others.”
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“When I was 22, I started feeling inflammation around my penis. Even though it wasn’t painful, I felt very scared. When I went to the doctor, he confirmed that I had herpes. The test results confirmed it was HSV-2, which is usually transmitted sexually . My attitude towards relationships has changed and I now have more respect for my body and the bodies of others.”
These are just some of the cases of citizens who have experienced this diagnosis first-hand and decided to receive medical care and change their sexual behavior while respecting their own bodies and the bodies of others.
According to Bogota’s Ministry of Health, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a topic of public health concern in the region because of their negative impact on pregnant women, newborns and the general population, including high direct and indirect costs. May result in failure of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up and impact on individuals, families and communities.
Why did the number of people increase?
Several factors can affect this. Increased HIV/AIDS screening capabilities in Bogota have made it possible to detect more viruses, according to the Ministry of Health.
The goal for 2024 is that 90% of people living with HIV know their diagnosis, 90% have access to treatment, and 80% have an undetectable viral load. On the other hand, the entity stated that the phenomenon of migration has had an impact on the increase in cases in the capital.
Additionally, a lack of compliance with preventive actions due to lack of knowledge or fear of addressing these issues continues to impact the problem.
The Public Health Surveillance System (Sivigila) collects and analyzes case records. Currently, the city prioritizes three sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) because of their impact on morbidity and mortality, negative economic consequences of increased resources required for health care, medical disability, and more. and the deaths of thousands.
AIDS
2022, According to data from the Ministry of Health, Bogota has reported 4,749 confirmed cases of HIV/AIDS, 4,180 of whom live in the country’s capital, with an incidence rate of 52.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
As of August 2023, 2,972 confirmed cases have been reported, 2,584 of which reside in Bogotá, with an incidence rate of 32.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
As of August, the towns with the highest incidence rates were: Los Mártires, La Candelaria, Santa Fe, Teusaquillo and Chapinero. The behavior of the locations with the highest rates in 2022 is the same.
Hepatitis C on the rise
In 2022, a total of 342 cases were reported, of which 84.2% (288) lived in Bogotá, with an incidence rate of 3.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
As of August 2023, 298 cases of hepatitis C have been reported, 256 of which occurred in Bogotá, with an incidence rate of 3.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
By 2022, the reporting rate will reach 3.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The towns that exceed the regional tax rate are: Los Mártires, Santa Fe and Tunjuelito. As of week 35 of 2023, the locations with the highest incidence rates are: La Candelaria, Los Mártires and Santa Fe.
Regarding hepatitis C, 439 cases were reported in 2022, 387 of them living in Bogotá, with an incidence rate of 4.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. As of August 2023, 428 cases have been reported, 382 of them living in Bogota, giving an incidence rate of 4.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence of hepatitis C increased in Bogotá between January and August 2022 compared to January to August 2023, from 3.0 (241) to 4.8 (382) cases per 100,000 inhabitants .
The towns most affected between 2022 and 2023 are: La Candelaria, from 0 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022 to 10.9 cases (2 cases) per 100,000 inhabitants; Teusaquillo, from 0 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022 (2 cases) The number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants increased from 10.1 (17) to 19.8 (33) in Chapinero from 19.8 (35) per 100,000 inhabitants to 24.5 (44) per 100,000 inhabitants.
pregnancy syphilis
In 2022, 581 cases were reported in women with this disorder, with a prevalence of 8.9 per 1,000 live births + fetal deaths.
The areas with the highest prevalence are: La Candelaria, Usme, Rafael Uribe Uribe, Los Mártires, Tunjuelito and Ciudad Bolívar, where vulnerabilities related to poverty, displacement and street habitability are more severe. 35 As of 2023, 363 cases have been reported, giving a prevalence rate of 8.8.
During the same period in 2022, 412 cases were reported, giving a rate of 9.5. “In this case it is important to show the impact on this indicator due to the migration of the Venezuelan population as a vulnerable group in the municipality. It is a highly mobile population despite living in the area for more than six months , coupled with its abnormal situation in the country, does not allow connection to the general social health care system,” the Health Minister explained.
action
June 2023, At the invitation of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Bogota joins the Seville Declaration and a network of cities working together to support communities affected by the human immunodeficiency virus in recognition of their commitment and comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS. HIV.
Between 2020 and 2022, more than 82,000 rapid HIV tests, 97,000 syphilis tests and 43,000 hepatitis B tests were conducted free of charge in parks, squares, community days and local health services.
In the same year, 3,642,484 free condoms were distributed within the framework of educational promotion and prevention activities carried out in different care settings in the areas of “Salud a Mi Barrio” and “Salud a Mi Vereda”. Moreover, according to the Secretariat, the regional network of condom dispensers (approximately 100 functional dispensers) has been continued and expanded.
In 2022, we will implement the congenital syphilis reduction strategy, focusing on pregnant women and migrant populations, and conduct 15,600 rapid syphilis tests among the general population. In the same year, we will participate in the pilot hepatitis B vaccination for key groups and achieve: 10,671 first doses and 2,711 second doses. second doses, 1,241 third doses and 174 boosters. Long-term surveillance operations on blood and blood products are also maintained to keep HIV transmission mechanisms at zero in the city.
Carol Malaver
Deputy Editor Bogota