It Can Be Cured, But Stigma Keeps Syphilis in the Shadows

There are some health conversations people in Zambia will have openly.

Others are whispered about.

Sexually transmitted infections often fall into the second category.

For someone who notices an unusual sore, rash or other change, the first reaction may not always be to visit a clinic. It can be embarrassment. Fear that someone will see them. Fear of being judged. Or the uncomfortable question: "What will people think of me?"

That silence can have consequences.

One of the infections that can remain hidden behind that silence is syphilis.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria. It can be treated and cured with antibiotics, but the infection can become serious when it is left untreated.

And that is what makes awareness important.

It may not look like what people expect

One reason people may not seek treatment is that syphilis does not always announce itself with obvious symptoms.

The infection develops in stages, and symptoms can disappear even while the infection remains in the body.

An early symptom can be a painless sore, which may heal on its own. Later, a person may develop a rash, including on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, as well as fever, swollen glands, tiredness or other symptoms.

Some people may have no noticeable symptoms at all.

That creates an easy trap: feeling better can be mistaken for being cured.

But without testing and appropriate treatment, the infection can remain.

Untreated syphilis can eventually damage the brain, nerves, eyes, heart and other organs.

It can also have serious consequences during pregnancy, including infection of the unborn baby.

Then there is the stigma

For many people, getting tested is not simply a medical decision.

It can feel like a social one.

There can be fear that a partner will assume infidelity, that friends or relatives will find out, or that health workers or other people will judge them.

For young people in particular, embarrassment about discussing sex and sexual health can make it harder to ask questions or seek help.

And sometimes the problem is even simpler: a person may not know that a symptom could be an STI.

This is why conversations about syphilis cannot only be about the bacteria.

They also have to be about the silence around it.

Getting an STI does not automatically tell the complete story of someone's character, relationship or behaviour. What matters from a health perspective is knowing the status, getting appropriate treatment and preventing further transmission.

Zambia is now trying to break that silence

It is against this background that Zambia has launched the STOP Syphilis Campaign, bringing the issue into the public conversation.

The Ministry of Health, together with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Zambia and the National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council, officially launched the campaign in Lusaka.

The campaign is focused on four simple messages: increase awareness, encourage testing, promote timely treatment and tackle the stigma surrounding sexually transmitted infections.

AHF Zambia Country Program Manager Dr Webster C. Chewe was among those representing the organisation at the launch.

The message from the partners is straightforward: knowing your status is the first step.

And that applies even when someone feels perfectly healthy.

Testing is not an admission of guilt

Perhaps one of the most important messages behind the campaign is that seeking an STI test should not be treated as something shameful.

It is a health decision.

The same way people check their blood pressure, test for HIV or seek treatment for an infection, sexual health is part of overall health.

For anyone who is sexually active, particularly someone who has symptoms, has had a potential exposure or has concerns about their sexual health, a health facility can provide confidential advice, testing and treatment.

The important thing is not to self-diagnose.

A sore or rash can have many causes, and symptoms alone cannot reliably tell someone whether they have syphilis.

Testing is what provides the answer.

The campaign comes down to a simple message

Syphilis is not a disease that should be hidden because of shame.

It is a treatable and curable infection, but people need to know about it, test when necessary and seek treatment early.

The STOP Syphilis campaign is therefore asking Zambians to move the conversation from embarrassment to health.

Know your status. Get tested. Get treated. Stop syphilis.