A Dutch hospital has sounded the alarm over a dramatic surge in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among 15 to 17-year-olds, alongside a concurrent rise in teenage pregnancies, launching targeted school education programs to curb further growth of public health risks.
Data from Diakonessenhuis hospital shows confirmed STI cases in this age group jumped from 33 to 56 in just 12 months. Public health professionals at the facility name rising syphilis infections as a particularly worrying trend, as the bacterial infection can pass from pregnant people to their unborn children, leading to severe health complications for newborns. In some confirmed cases, affected infants require up to 10 days of intravenous penicillin treatment immediately after birth to address congenital syphilis.
This year, instead of marking International Day of the Midwife with traditional ceremonial events, Diakonessenhuis shifted its focus to a community-focused prevention initiative. Hospital midwives visited local secondary schools (locally referred to as mulo-scholen) to deliver interactive sessions on sexual health awareness and STI prevention, directly engaging with at-risk young people.
Griselda van der Leeuw, head of midwifery at Diakonessenhuis, emphasized that proactive prevention must be the core priority for addressing this growing public health issue. “Our goal is to help young people understand the real risks of unprotected sexual activity, and internalize how critical consistent protection is for their long-term health,” she explained.
Hospital leadership has echoed this commitment to community outreach. Myrtel Gefferie, the hospital’s director of nursing, noted that cross-sector collaboration across the entire healthcare system is essential to effectively tackle rising STI rates, while chief executive Russ Headley added that beyond clinical treatment, consistent public awareness work remains a non-negotiable component of any successful response.
Initial outreach sessions have been well received by students and school staff, with multiple secondary schools already requesting to host future sessions. Despite this early positive momentum, Diakonessenhuis officials stress that long-term, structural partnerships between healthcare providers, education institutions and public health agencies are required to expand the program and create sustainable, long-term change.
As part of the hospital’s International Day of the Midwife observance, the organization also celebrated the work of its midwifery team this year. Long-serving midwife Maudy Wirth was honored with the hospital’s 2026 Midwife of the Year award for her exceptional contributions to patient care.