HIV treatment costs the state around $14.4 million.
Dr. Lilliam Fondeur, a gynecologist and obstetrician, explained that sexually transmitted infections represent billions in health care costs.
SANTO DOMINGO. - Around 12,000 patients are undergoing treatment for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the country, representing a cost of US$14.4 million to the Dominican State. This was stated by Dr. Lilliam Fondeur, a gynecologist and obstetrician who spoke about Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs) during a lecture at the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC).
Fondeur was invited as an exhibitor of the Diploma in Gender Equality Perspective and Social Policy, a program taught by the Center for Gender Studies Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) in collaboration with Ministry of women and Social Policy Cabinet (GPS), in which the expert discussed contraceptive methods, as well as their barriers and access strategies in the country.
The specialist indicated that the HIV and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) are the STIs with the greatest economic impact in the country. "HIV consumes resources that could be allocated to prevention," he noted.
He also indicated that these diseases have a considerable impact on the personal life of those who suffer from them, reducing their work productivity and adding treatment costs to their budget. In the case of HIV, lifelong treatment with antiretrovirals is required, syphilis produces neurological sequelae if not treated and the HPV It is the leading cause of cervical cancer, which is vaccine-preventable. In the case of women with HPV, the doctor stated that they have lower job placement.
STIs: a disease that affects the world
According to Dr. Fondeur, more than one million people contract an STI every day. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 374 million curable cases are reported each year, with the highest rates among women and young people in vulnerable communities.
In 2013, the Ministry of Public Health reported more than 122,000 cases of curable STIs in the country, including 9,863 cases of genital ulcers, 6,627 cases of urethral discharge, and 239,399 cases of vaginal discharge.
Similarly, an increase in specific STIs was reported, syphilis (+ 22%), gonorrhea: (+47.5%), Herpes sex (+35.6%) and VPH: 471 (+141.5%).
El Diploma in Gender Equality Perspective and Social Policy It is a training that is part of the contributions of the project Strengthening Health and Social Protection Systems financed by the European Union through funds delegated to the French Development Agency and under the responsibility of implementation of French expertise. Participating in this 51 technical collaborators and officials from different institutions of the Social Policy Office.
El CEG INTEC offers training in different aspects of equality, advising and supporting state agencies that work to guarantee this right established by the Dominican legal framework. You can inquire about its offerings by accessing the ceg.intec.edu.do.