By Hou Akot Hou
Medics in Aweil West County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, have reported an increase in cases of syphilis among young adolescent men and women in the area.
Lual Khamis Lual, the deputy director of Nyamlel Hospital, revealed that they have observed a substantial surge in patients diagnosed with syphilis from the beginning of the year through March.
“We have recorded over 96 cases of syphilis, which shows a significant increase compared to last year, when we had 70 cases. This number has been recorded since February-March, and it is worrisome,” said Khamis.
“This indicates that among young people, there is little or no protection at all, which is why we are seeing such a high number at the beginning of the year,” he noted.
The medic attributed the significant increase to unprotected sexual activity.
Lual expressed that the report is alarming and requires efforts from individual youth and their partners to undergo testing.
Khamis emphasized the importance of protection, stating that if someone contracts a disease, they should seek treatment.
He warned that untreated infections can lead to infertility.
Syphilis is a bacterial disease that is primarily transmissible through sexual intercourse.