MMC Eunice Mgcina is using the month of February to cast the spotlight on the perils of unhealthy lifestyle choices and to encourage joburgers to routinely check-up against HIV/Aids, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and tuberculosis (TB).
Cllr Mgcina notes that modern-day habits have spawned an entire family of lifestyle diseases, and the City is providing public health interventions to help residents combat this from getting worse.
“We’ll undertake several activities during this month in all our healthcare facilities to highlight the importance of regular screening, testing and continued adherence to medicine intake,” she says.
Cllr Mgcina adds that lifestyle diseases affect joburgers from all walks of life, including adolescents, young and adult women and men in general.
“Despite the strong association between STIs and HIV acquisition, STIs have been overshadowed in recent years by the heightened public-health focus on the HIV epidemic and management thereof,” she explains.
The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development hopes the National Sexual and Reproductive Health Month can help joburgers reduce death for maternal and new-born babies and increase children, women and men’s health as well as that of people with disabilities.
She says public health interventions in February will be directed at highlighting the dangers of teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, the availability of contraception and fertility planning, early antenatal bookings and the importance of cervical cancer screenings.
According to a surveillance study conducted by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, most participants enrolled with STI syndromes are young and reported a higher risk of sexual behaviour.
The study concludes that STI/HIV control interventions, such as knowledge of HIV status, condom use and voluntary medical male circumcision need to be strengthened.
“We will continue community outreach programmes to increase access, coverage and uptake of HIV, STI and TB testing services amongst all sexual groupings; increase male and female condom uptake and usage and upscale health promotion and prevention messages to improve knowledge and safe sex behaviours,” she explains.
The City will also host webinars on STIs, teenage pregnancy and medical male circumcision under the theme: “We are in this together – Checka Impilo”, an earnest call for all to make responsible health choices