Back in 1978, doctors and the medical community discovered that gay men were developing rare cancers and pneumonias. It seemed to be caused by a virus and was easily passed from one to another. Did anyone tell the gay community? No. As a result, there was a decimation of the gay men’s community. The virus still lives on today.
Forward to 2009…. Doctors and the medical community discovered that gay men in Halifax were getting syphilis – SYPHILLIS! It is easily passed from one to another. Did anyone tell the gay community? No.
Forward to 2013. The number of syphilis cases in gay men has increased substantially. When did they start to tell the gay community? After they researched, talked about it within their won circles, developed a poster with a penis-like figure on it. How did they tell them? By posting it to various websites in the form of webpage ads. No one pays webpage ads much heed or attention, now do they?
True, many won’t die like with AIDS but to treat someone and follow that up for the year-plus costs MORE than saying, “Hey! Did ya’ hear?” Did you do that? No.
So if it isn’t obvious, you all have (more) blood on your hands now – good for you!
Attention straight people: YOU TOO will get it, like AIDS. It will take a little longer but it will happen! Thanks Public Health NS! —Not dying; not infected… yet…
This article appears in Jul 18-24, 2013.
Well maybe they didn’t tell you about that situation specifically… but did you get any of their messages about sexually transmitted diseases? How about the ones about disclosing sexual history? Sleeping with strangers or people who are unclear about their sexual history?
Because all the advice they try to jam down your throat (the stuff you probably think either isn’t applicable, or infringes on your sexual expression) would do well to prevent, and maybe remedy, situations like this.
But because they weren’t holding peoples hands right up to the bedroom door, and not performing check-ups upon completion of each ‘dirty deed’, it’s all their fault.
You. Are. A. fool
Now wait… OB has a good point… (yes, the gay guy is going to correct you)
On the AIDS thing fool:
Does your logic apply to those who were infected with AIDS and Hep C through the blood system? Does it also apply to the partners and children infected with AIDS by those who were infected through the blood system?
Did you consider the cost to YOU fool?
YOU pay for the AIDS drugs.
YOU pay for the syphilis drugs.
YOU pay for the messaging.
Had they acted earlier, in both cases, we wouldn’t be having this debate.
Public Health. Are. Fools. Like. You. Fool.
Think before you react, eh?
I don’t really disagree with anything you just posted meaty
I was referring more to the sexually transmitted part of the issue, not to the cases where people transmitted it unknowingly (like parent to child – that information may very well have been extremely lacking – I’m not sure). But I don’t think I’m following your logic about transmission through the blood system. Obviously its a different issue when the person receiving the virus has no opportunity to avoid getting it (like a child), as opposed to when its a consensual issue between two people having sex (where disclosing your sexual history could avoid transmission).
But I don’t think your post disproves my point. NS health has made herculean attempts to curb the rise of STD and STI rates. I was only attempting to stop public health from being demonized over this issue, and to stop what seems to be OB blaming our healthcare system for the rise in these diseases.
Besides, how are they supposed to broadcast this information to the ‘gay community’? Post it on their website? Yeah, because sooo many people check the Health NS website. How about the newspaper? Nope, the majority of people don’t read the newspapers, and when they do it’s usually confined to the comics and crosswords (guilty as charged 🙂 ). They’ve apparently tried the internet, but with little effect (which, oddly enough, is probably where OB got all their information).
Had they acted earlier? I believe they did… just not in ways that were specific to the rise in AIDS or syphilis (more relating to STD’s/STI’s in general). They gave people information and tools to help combat ALL situations like this. The responsibility falls to the individuals to have the foresight necessary to (when they can) remove themselves from situations where they can become exposed.
In the spirit of healthy debate i shall, grudgingly, avoid calling you a fool…
…
…
…for now! Muahaha
sissies
I agree 100% with fool. lol not something you hear very often in real life. “Yes! The fool is right!”
But yeah, how were people supposed to “let the gay community” know. The fact that OP finished off this post by saying “Straight people, you WILL get it too!” confirms that it is up to EVERYBODY to protect themselves. I learned about prevention techniques before I ever had sex, what excuse does anyone else have, no matter their orientation to be ignorant on the subject?
Huh?
Yes it is a conspiracy. I mean no has ever been told not to have unprotected sex. Shit they had VD films in the military during WWII. Common sense tells one not to have unprotected sex with people (male, female, straight, gay, or whatever). If in doubt, wrap it.
Damn too late to edit my above response. When AIDS first appeared, it was new and not seen before. As such it takes time to figure out first of all what it is, what it does, how it is transmitted and a myriad of questions need to be answered to fight it. Unfortunately that all takes time and even 30+ years later they don’t know all of it and are still learning about it and how to fight it. Now on the other hand, syphilis has been around almost from the beginning of man and has been well known for a very long time and with the development of penicillin it can be successfully eradicated if found in time. What it is, what it does, and everything else about it is well known. But even at the beginning of penicillin treatments, they had to be refined over the years. Sheepskin wasn’t only for not having babies way back then but to protect against disease.
One would have to be blind or deaf, or unable to speak,or self obsessed, or lived alone on a desert island since birth to not know about syphillis and any other STD.
Or wilfully stupid.
This bitch looks to me that the OP wants to place the blame for these problems on the medical profession
Instead of where it truly belongs, those who failed to take the precautions needed to protect themselves !
My my, such ignorance on the topics of sexuality and sexual health…!
And no, I don’t mean rude.
You’ll have to elaborate on that accusation meaty
Whos ultimately responsible?
…and the band played on.
OP is the NS health care system responsible for the high teenage pregnancy rate as well?
Perhaps they’ll have a float in the parade?
Public Health mascots “Sy” and “Phyllis” presenting their safe sex message in the form of a “wrap”