“Sexual education is a social challenge,” said MSc Crucelda Estrada Guerra, who is responsible for the Department of Prevention at the Municipal Directorate of Public Health, in San Antonio de los Baños.
Crucelda Estrada Guerra explains: “Sexually transmitted diseases or venereal diseases constitute a group of infectious and contagious clinical entities. They are transmitted from person to person, almost exclusively during sexual intercourse, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. Also by the use of contaminated syringes or by contact with the blood of sick people, although some of them can be transmitted during pregnancy, from mother to child. ”
However, the interview is focused on the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases in the municipality: “In San Antonio de los Baños we have cases of syphilis, blenorrhagia, but the cases of patients with AIDS (Human immunodeficiency syndrome) have increased. There are 157 people living with this disease; In addition to 14 new cases, 3 of them come from other regions, but they are living here. Regarding sexually transmitted diseases, San Antonio is one of the municipalities with the highest incidence in the province of Artemisa and in Cuba, said Estrada Guerra.
-In which sector of the population do new patients with AIDS predominate?
Young people predominate, hence in Ariguanabo sex education is a social challenge, because the ages at which sexual relations begin tend to decrease; and inversely proportional, sexually transmitted diseases tend to increase. A united action among the family, school and health institutions and society is urgently needed in order to carry out prevention, as the main way to avoid contagion.
What actions are taken to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS in San Antonio de los Baños?
The National Program for the prevention of these diseases is taken into account. Prevention Groups are created, with particular attention to people or risk groups, either men who have sex with other men, women at risk of contracting AIDS; as well as groups to work with adolescents and young boys.
Currently, specific attention is given to transgender people. The strategy for the preparation of health promoters is very positive, because this work is assumed by members of the aforementioned groups, and of course, the conversations and the various activities carried out by young people or people with The same sexual orientation. The close relations with the school institutions are maintained, which contribute to the work of prevention and health promotion, added Crucelda Estrada Guerra.
The third of the great Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda is to ensure a healthy life and promote the well-being of people of all ages. Among its goals, No. 3 addresses the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, as a sensitive point. However, resources and efforts vanish, if prejudices inherited from patriarchy do not allow adequate advice and timely assistance, in terms of sexuality. This makes adolescents and young people vulnerable. So, let's take care of them and allow them to be realized as sexed, educated, happy, and mainly, healthy social beings.
