Although stabilized, STD numbers still high

Bob Benedetti

Chances are that baseball great Yogi Berra's statement, "It's not over 'til it's over" wasn't aimed toward sexual health. But part-way through April, it's not too late to get checked and healthy during STD (sexually transmitted disease) Awareness Month.

The national Center for Disease Control described sexually transmitted disease as part of a "public health crisis in the United States."

In 2007, there were nearly 1,000 cases of STDs in Edgecombe County. Barnes attributed the reason they're seeing a steady in number of STD cases is because people are actually coming in to get tested.

In Edgecombe County, the number of cases seen has stabilized, but according to Director of Nursing Susan Barnes, "We need to constantly work to bring those numbers down."

Over the last decade, Edgecombe County has annually been one of the five highest-ranked counties in North Carolina for STDs.

Contrary to what may believe, STDs don't always involve obvious signs and symptoms. For example, the most commonly reported STD, Chlamydia, often doesn’t cause symptoms in women (and sometimes men), when undetected in women, the infection can spread to the uterus of fallopian tubes – and cause chronic pain and infertility.

More than 1,400 cases of Chlamydia have been seen in the last three years and more have likely gone undetected.

Barnes said that, "Sometimes people are reluctant to come in because of privacy issues" but continued that health department staff is focused on the community well-being. "We just want to help the community to be healthy."

The Edgecombe County Health Department has resources for people to learn about STDs.

Edgecombe County Health Department offers health education sessions to the community on infectious diseases and communicable diseases at the Tarboro and Rocky Mount locations.

Their addresses are 2909 Main St. in Tarboro, or 107 Atlantic Avenue in Rocky Mount.

Michelle Etheridge, the health department's education representative, said the department offers community presentations by request, family planning classes for those seeking family planning resources and STD education.

Free STD testing and treatment for reportable sexually transmitted diseases such as Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis is offered by walk-in or appointment for men and by appointment for women. Confidential Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing and counseling are offered free of charge.

To schedule an appointment, call 641-7511 in Tarboro or 985-4011 in Rocky Mount.

State law requires that students in high school or under must be taught abstinence-based sexual health education. The state recommends that families educate their children, and that the schools only offer education that complements what they learn at home.

Edgecombe County Public Schools integrates it into the school curriculum with Family Life Education.

Even those under the age of 18, can come anytime to receive confidential testing and information for communicable diseases.

It's important for any who's sexually active to talk with his or her healthcare provider to see if STD testing is recommended. Pap tests and routine medical exams do not check for STDs.

With half of the April STD Awareness Month still remaining, hopefully more persons will follow this year's theme "Take Control. Get the Facts. Get Tested."

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