Health authorities in Suriname are sounding the alarm over a dramatic resurgence of congenital syphilis, a potentially fatal sexually transmitted infection that poses grave risks to pregnant women and their unborn children. According to Soroptimist International Club Paramaribo (SICP), this dangerous form of the disease has shown a significant increase over the past five years, following three decades of sporadic occurrence.
The bacterial infection, which primarily affects mucosal membranes of the genitals and anus, presents particular dangers during pregnancy. Many infected individuals remain asymptomatic, unknowingly transmitting the disease through unsafe sexual practices or even kissing when oral lesions are present.
In response to this public health crisis, SICP—an organization of professional women dedicated to improving conditions for women and children—has launched a comprehensive awareness initiative. The campaign features an educational video produced in both Dutch and Sranantongo, developed in collaboration with ‘s Lands Hospitaal, the Dermatological Service, and Foundation Lobi. An informative poster has also been created to support the effort.
The medical consequences of untreated syphilis during pregnancy are severe: potential stillbirth, neonatal death, premature delivery, or serious congenital abnormalities. Pregnant women may develop characteristic palm and sole lesions that progress to painless ulcers.
Health experts emphasize that these tragic outcomes are preventable with timely penicillin treatment following diagnosis during prenatal care. They recommend that sexually active individuals, particularly youth, undergo regular STI screening, and that both partners be tested when planning pregnancy or upon conception.
The campaign has gained traction through media partnerships, with various channels agreeing to broadcast the educational videos. Social media sharing is considered particularly effective for reaching younger audiences. Posters have been distributed to medical facilities including the Medical Mission and Regional Health Service Suriname, with videos scheduled for display during clinical consultations.
SICP advocates for school-based education programs as crucial for optimal youth engagement, emphasizing the need for expansion beyond Paramaribo into district areas. Interactive sessions and multilingual video productions for interior regions are planned to maximize population coverage.
Through this coordinated effort, SICP and its partner organizations aim to dramatically reduce syphilis infections, especially among young people, embracing the preventive medicine principle that ‘prevention is better than cure’—or as expressed in local terms: ‘Safe seks – Freyri nanga koni.’