The Tribune

THE Ministry of Health held its first Annual STI Awareness Symposium under the theme “Talk, Test, Treat”.

The symposium was held on Friday in the Ministry’s cafeteria on Meeting Street, organised through the Sexually Transmitted Diseases Unit of the Department of Public Health.

At that sitting, Ministry of Health officials said the number of syphilis cases among other reported instances of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) was on the rise in the Bahamas.

According to Larry Ferguson, co-ordinator of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) at the Ministry, the incidence of persons who contracted syphilis since 2010 is concerning, especially among younger people.

Prior to 2010, the older population, in some cases those up to 80 or 90 years old, were the front runners in statistical data, Ms Ferguson said.

However, as more young people contract syphilis, healthcare professionals believe there is substantial mixing in sexual activity between both age categories.