Canary Islands Initiates Campaign to Combat Sexually Transmitted Infections
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 13 Nov (EUROPA PRESS) –
From January to September of this year, 980 instances of gonococcal infections have been confirmed in the Canary Islands, representing a 40.3 percent increase from the same time frame last year, along with 1,467 cases of chlamydia infection, which equates to a 62.3 percent rise compared to the previous year, and 728 instances of syphilis, reflecting a decline of 20.4 percent in cases in comparison to the previous year.
The Minister of Health for the Government of the Canary Islands, Esther Monzón, alongside the general director of Public Health of the Canarian Health Service, José Díaz-Flores, introduced a campaign this morning aimed at preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Under the slogan ‘Prevention starts with you’, this initiative seeks to educate and inform the public about the prevention of STIs and to encourage the use of condoms among the wider community.
Minister Monzón highlighted that the objective is to prevent sexually transmitted infections while reminding citizens of the importance of taking precautions to avoid these preventable illnesses, fostering the belief that prevention begins with individual responsibility.
She elaborated, “the creativity behind this campaign employs real and striking data to communicate the urgency of the issue and to normalise discussions regarding sexual health.” Furthermore, it aims to inspire reflection, persuade the public, dismantle stigmas, and raise awareness about emotional and sexual health.
“Consequently, the situation in the Canary Islands, with a noticeable increase in cases in recent years, emphasises the necessity of a campaign that informs, raises awareness, and initiates dialogue about sexual health. However, the lack of information, stigma, and a prevailing sense of invulnerability mean that many individuals neglect preventive measures, such as condom use,” Monzón added.
The campaign centres on the necessity to encourage responsible sexual behaviour to mitigate the spread of STIs. It promotes diagnostic testing for STIs at the slightest suspicion of risk, as well as routine examinations to identify these infections early, particularly when symptoms are not apparent.
Monzón underscored the vital importance of addressing existing misinformation surrounding myths and misunderstandings linked to STIs and, more broadly, sexual health. Finally, she appealed for “individual accountability, an aspect on which experts universally agreed when developing the campaign: to stress that decisions regarding sexual health impact not only the individual but also their partners and the community,” she explained.
TARGET POPULATION
The general director of Public Health clarified that the campaign is directed toward all sexually active individuals, with particular focus on young people, who statistically represent the most vulnerable demographic for contracting STIs; adults, who are experiencing a rise in STI transmission; individuals involved in prostitution; and finally, gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men, who demonstrate a higher incidence of STIs necessitating a tailored approach.
“It is crucial for citizens to recognise that anyone engaging in unprotected sexual activities is susceptible to contracting an STI and that timely diagnosis of such infections is imperative for halting the chain of transmission. Ultimately, we must continuously stress that condoms are the most effective means of preventing sexually transmitted infections,” stated Díaz-Flores.
EDUCATION FOR PREVENTION
Díaz-Flores remarked that “it must be emphasised that, in addition to preventive strategies, the promotion of affective-sexual education for the entire population is integral to a sexual health model that respects sexuality and sexual relationships, along with encouraging safe sexual experiences devoid of coercion, discrimination, and violence, which are vital for achieving comprehensive sexual health.
In this vein, it is pertinent to recall that the Primary Care Management of the SCS conducts community initiatives throughout the year in the educational sector, both at Primary and Secondary levels, via talks, workshops, and engaging activities where students are informed about the significance of STI and HIV prevention, as well as the necessity of maintaining healthy emotional and sexual relationships.
As an example of such initiatives, Díaz-Flores noted that the Primary Care Management of the Tenerife Health Area promotes healthy lifestyle habits and preventive measures among secondary school students on the island via the Health with Z project, a collaborative initiative launched in September 2022 with the Ministry of Education of the Government of the Canary Islands.
He suggested that the early commencement of sexual activity, the globalisation of information through social media, and social interconnectivity have contributed to a rise in misconceptions regarding the transmission of STIs, their associated risk factors, and prevention methods, thus leading to the increase in infection rates. This, combined with a diminished fear of HIV due to scientific advancements in treatment, has enabled patients with HIV to manage their condition as a chronic illness, which traditionally posed a threat to survival.
Finally, the stigma surrounding these infections often leads young individuals (and occasionally certain demographics) to feel judged, resulting in reluctance to discuss uncomfortable topics, which in turn discourages visits to health facilities in favour of seeking guidance through social media and peer advice.
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE OF STIs
The trend of these infections is increasing regardless of the pandemic period, mirroring observations from the rest of Spain, as indicated in the latest report on Epidemiological Surveillance of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Spain 2023, published in October 2024.
Among the key factors supporting this upward trend are the prevailing lack of awareness that these infections are a real threat, along with the belief that anyone engaging in unprotected sexual practices is at risk; a decline in condom use among young people and the population at large (with a preference for pleasure sensation and reliance on oral contraception); the early initiation of sexual activities, increased frequency, and a rising number of sexual partners resulting from the globalisation of information through social networks and interconnectedness. Technology enables contact with a larger pool of sexual partners via social media and provides access to pornography, which creates an idealised notion of sexual relationships that is far removed from reality, compounded by the effects of alcohol and drugs that heighten the risks to sexual health.
Moreover, in a positive light, other factors warrant consideration, such as enhancements in surveillance and diagnostic systems that may result in the anticipation of more cases and the updating of epidemiological surveillance records alongside the emergence of more sensitive and less invasive diagnostic techniques.
