FRONTESPIZIO - Cooperazione Italiana allo Sviluppo

106 Tigray RHB; T.M.A.; IISMAN onlus; Italian Cooperation - HSDPHIV disease staging has long been recognized and used to guide medicalmanagement in resource-limited settings. Sexually transmitted infections(STIs), once called venereal diseases, are among the most common infectiousdiseases in Africa. Though extensive studies have not been conducted so far,more and more knowledge is being acquired nowadays. For example in theUnited States more than 20 STIs have now been identified, and they affectmore than 13 million men and women in that country every year.Understanding the basic facts about STIs and related manifestations – theways in which they are spread, their common symptoms, and how they canbe treated – is the first step toward prevention. STIs affect men and womenof all backgrounds and economic levels and they are most prevalent amongteenagers and young adults. The incidence of STIs and other possible skinand systemic condition is rising in the world, partly because in the last fewdecades young people have become more sexually active and have multiplesex partners during their lives, potentially becoming at higher risk to developSTIs. Most of the time, STIs cause no symptoms, particularly in women evenif manifestations on the skin are common. When and if symptoms develop,they may be confused with those of other diseases not transmitted throughsexual contact. When diagnosed and treated early, many STIs can be curedeffectively but nowadays some infections have become resistant to the drugsused to treat them and now require newer types of antibiotics. Experts believethat having STIs other than AIDS increases one’s risk for becoming infectedwith the HIV. STIs and related skin conditions cause physical and emotionalsuffering to millions and are costly to individuals and to society as a whole.Knowledge of STIs can be very important in reducing the incidence andcomplications of sexually transmitted diseases.This operational research aims at addressing the skin conditions in rural communitiesas an entry point to Public health at low cost approach with betteraccessibility (see in Annex 1). This program intends to employ a basic strategyof easy diagnosis, treatment and referral skin condition through the simpleuse of eyes by health workers at peripheral levels in Tigray. TheOperational Research (OR) scheme therefore deals with the establishment ofa basic health service to address the emerging skin diseases related toHIV/AIDS and to other systemic illnesses in Tigray region. Specific objectivesare the establishment of a database on dermatological diseases and STIsrelated with systemic conditions and the early detection of systemic illnessesthrough the skin manifestations.This OR aims to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic capacity on HIV