650 cases of sexually-transmitted diseases reported in Dubai in 16 months

650 cases of sexually-transmitted diseases reported in Dubai in 16 months

By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
Published: January 27, 2008, 17:24

Dubai: Almost 650 cases of sexually-transmitted diseases were reported in the emirate in the span of 16 months, mostly among young women who caught it from their husbands.

From May 2006 to September 2007, 647 cases were seen at Al Badaa Health Centre, which is where the government-run sexually-transmitted disease (STD) clinic is located.

STD cases have also almost doubled in the four-year period between 2000 and 2003, comprising 3.64 per cent of overall medical cases in 2000 to 5.15 per cent in 2003, the latest analysis available.

The Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms) released the statistics in the lead up to next week's conference of the International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections and the Annual International Infectious Disease Congress.

Dr Kamal Faour, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at Maktoum Hospital, and co-chair of the conference, told the press the cases mostly comprised Emirati women in their early 30s.

"I can say the women are victims because they caught the disease from their husbands," he said.

He also said Emirati women comprised the bulk of cases because the statistics only reflected visits to public health facilities, which tend to see more locals than expatriates. The actual figure for STDs in Dubai is unknown.

"The (real) number is more because cases at private clinics and hospitals are not being reported. They are underreported because of the stigma," he said.
Dr. Faour blamed the increase of STDs, most of which are genital warts, genital herpes and gonorrhea, on ignorance and globalisation.

"People do not have awareness of the diseases because STDs are a taboo subject," he said.

"That is why we are holding the conference, to show how serious and dangerous these diseases are so that we can decrease the complications and costs of the disease."
Health complications and consequences of STDs include cancer and infertility, and could cause disability to newborns during delivery. Having an STD also increases one's chances of contracting HIV, the virus which causes AIDS.

The congress will discuss STD rapid diagnostic tests and the ethics of STD reporting. Speakers include officials from World Health Organisation and U.S.-based Centres for Disease Control.