Dabil Syphilis Testing

Prevent transmission from mother to child

Syphilis is a bacterial infection. It shows symptoms like painless sores and skin rashes in an early stage, but can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. If not treated, syphilis can cause severe problems such as cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, and organ damage, which can even be life-threatening.

The main risks of getting infected with syphilis are that women get infected through their (undiagnosed) partners, and that mothers pass it to their child during pregnancy or childbirth, leading to congenital syphilis.

Karimu aims at increasing the number of tested pregnant women and their partners to ensure proper treatment and avoid further distribution of syphilis. 

The availability of test kits and medication for patients who test positive is essential to be successful with this project. Karimu cooperates with the government and ensures that the number of test kits is sufficient to test all pregnant women and their partners, as well as people requesting voluntary testing. In addition, the availability of medication is being ensured. 

During a ramp-up phase, Karimu will provide test kits and medication, which will then be taken over by the government step by step. This will ensure that the program against syphilis will become sustainable. The engagement of Karimu is estimated to last 2-3 years.

The success of the program will be measured according to the following metrics: 

• Number of pregnant women and their partners tested (tested / tested positive)

• Number of voluntarily tested patients (male/female)

• Number of test kits used (total number / number of kits provided by Karimu)

• Number of medications provided by Karimu / provided by the government

Karimu will kick-off the testing and treatment activities in all facilities in Dabil. The Karimu project will end as soon as testing is guaranteed for all pregnant women and their partners and all patients who request to be tested voluntarily, and costs for test kits and treatment are covered completely by the government. 

Benefits:

• Increase the number of pregnant women and their partners being tested for syphilis.

• Identify the highest possible number of syphilis cases. 

• Ensure proper treatment for patients being tested positive.

• Avoid further transmission of syphilis, especially from mother to child and from partners to mothers.