Background:
STI has made remarkable achievements in the management, scaling up of syndromic approach treatment in the country through effective and feasible interventions. Over 3500 health facilities are offering STI and could save the lives of 450,000 people per year.
Tremendous achievements through continuous management of STIs has seen a decline in STD syndromes, HIV prevalence among STI clients is almost double those of ANC clients. There has been a moderate decline of HIV among STD clients.
In management of STIs, The program outputs are:-
- Syndromic management of STIs
- Syphilis screening and treatment offered in all antenatal clinics
- Mobilization and capacity building in private practitioners and alternative health care providers
- Establishment and etiological surveillance of STIs
Key Achievements are:-
- STI drugs are available in most health facilities,
- STI clinics are in place in all health facilities and dispensaries
However, the Ministry of Health remains committed to providing STI services as a way of supporting HIV prevention measures, In addition, diagnosis. At least 90% of patients diagnosed with STIs are offered HIV testing and 90% are offered appropriate symptomatic treatment.
Evaluation of the STI programme planned to establish the status & to enable plan way forward for the programme
Objectives
- To improve capacity of health care workers to manage Sexually Transmitted Infections
- To monitor quality of STI care and management
- To strengthen the monitoring and evaluation for STI service
- To ensure high quality comprehensive STI services
It is widely known that sexually transmitted infections are critical in transmission of HIV and that prompt and efficient management of the same goes a long way in reducing prevalence and incidence of HIV, reduction in STI / HIV/AIDS transmission, widespread and uniform adoption of the syndromic approach in the management of STIs.
This is a recognized opportunity the community to access STI services. However, there are still emerging challenges being faced on improving the access of service provision at the facility setting. These challenges are easily addressed in a by the programme in support of the activities at all levels.
Prompt and efficient treatment of STIs still remains a pillar of prevention of transmission of HIV. The syndromic approach has a major advantage in that it reduces treatment delays with its consequent trickle down benefits.
