Carnival: Terminal 3 bathrooms receive dispensers with condoms, in Manaus

Condom

In the year 2022, the municipality of Manaus registered 1,758 cases of HIV, representing an increase of 18.7% in the number of new cases compared to 2021

Manaus (AM) — Manaus recorded an increase of 18.7% in cases of HIV and 14.2% in cases of syphilis in 2022, compared to notifications for the year 2021. As a result, the Municipal Health Secretariat (Semsa) reinforces the guidelines for the control and prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). To facilitate access to condoms, even the bathrooms at Integration Terminal 3 had condom dispensers installed.

The work includes a series of activities that have been developed during the month of February during Carnival, when there is an increase in the risk of exposure to STIs.

“During Carnival, with carnival events and higher alcohol consumption, there is an increased risk of people not using condoms during sexual intercourse. To reduce this risk, Semsa has promoted several actions, guiding the population on the importance of safe sex and on forms of prevention”,

informed the director of Epidemiological Surveillance, Environmental, Zoonoses and Occupational Health at Semsa, Marinélia Ferreira.

Yesterday (17), the North Health District (Disa) promoted an educational action at the Integration Terminal 3 (T3), in the Cidade Nova neighborhood, with the distribution of educational material and condoms.

The Disa Norte team also installed dispensers with condoms in the bathrooms of Integration Terminal 3 to facilitate the population’s access to the product.

“When we are distributing the condom, sometimes the person is ashamed to take it. So, we put the dispensers with condoms in the bathrooms, where there is more privacy, and the population can have access to the amount they deem necessary”,

informed the nurse.

According to nurse Stela Simone Campos, technically responsible for control and prevention actions for STIs/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis at Disa Norte, the campaign’s programming was carried out in health units and in places with large circulation of people, such as T3 .

“Disa Norte already has educational work in T3 that involves prevention and control programs for other diseases, such as leprosy and dengue, and STIs are included. T3 is a place of intense flow of people, with high turnover, and it is important to take the opportunity to reinforce the guidelines for the population on ways to prevent STIs”, said Stela Campos.

For the saleswoman Valéria Gama, who works at T3, the prevention action is important for raising people’s awareness, especially young people who are starting their sexual life. “Here at the terminal, all kinds of people and of different ages pass by. But not everyone is aware. It is important to take care of your own health, since there is no way to know if the other person is also careful”, explained Valéria Gama.

Cases

In the year 2022, the municipality of Manaus registered 1,758 cases of HIV, representing an increase of 18.7% in the number of new cases compared to 2021. The highest concentration of cases was diagnosed in the male population (77.6%) and in the age range from 15 to 39 years (80.4%).

The number of syphilis cases reached 3,900 last year, also recording an increase (14.2%) compared to 2021, with a detection rate of 173 notifications per 100,000 thousand inhabitants. Of the total, 68.2% of the cases were registered in the male population, without considering pregnant women, and the age group from 15 to 39 years old represented 72.1% of the cases.

*With advisory information

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