Thursday, March 01, 2012

Blog #7: Experts- Syphilis Tests Could Save A Million Babies


Due to the high rates of stillborns, miscarriages, premature deliveries, and low birth weights from the untreated cases of syphilis during pregnancy, the Global Congenital Syphilis Partnership (GCSP) are starting to test women who are early in pregnancy. This treatment would cost less than roughly $1.58 per women to those who test positive and would be given a single shot of penicillin (antibiotic). With this, GCSP are hoping to save the lives of millions of newborn babies that reside in the poorer countries with Africa being the main one. This treatment must be given to the women prior to her 28 week gestation mark; if successful, it will be distributed globally from China to Peru. The partnership of Gates Foundation, Save the Children, the World Health Organization, to name a few, are pushing to have this new plan out for three years.
Although I feel like they have accomplished controlling the situation as far as the syphilis outbreak, I still don’t feel like there is going to be any progress. Yes, you can give the people the treatment, but what are they actually teaching these women and the entire population to ensure that this type of situation doesn’t happen again? There needs to be health programs available, as well as letting people aware about the use of contraceptives; the health organizations involved are fighting to not only fight syphilis, but to reduce poverty, with the help of these programs not only will they fight syphilis as well as save lives, but this can possibly control the high population rate as will. This alone will help decrease the rate of poverty as well.

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