The Centennial state aka Colorado, has recently been revealed to be experiencing a dramatic increase in STI cases. Specifically, gonorrhea. With an increase of 200 percent since 2015, this is drawing lots of attention… as it should. Being a sophomore in college, and coming from a small town, my first year of college was a real eye opener as you are exposed to these diseases quite frequently, or should I write, you hear about them more frequently. Its not everyday you are in homeroom, in Shelby, North Carolina where you hear word of someone having gonorrhea (aka never heard of this) but it is everyday in college LOL. Apparently in Colorado however, it is also everyday. So, they are shifting how they undergo these specific situations by adding new preventive measures, lowering costs, and making the process of receiving care overall easier than before.
Colorado has implemented a bill, via the Senate, known as the “Protecting Preventive Health Care Coverage” which is acting to eliminate this growing problem and has an extremely positive response by their residents. It is just crazy to me that this has to be a real thing, but not everyone is a germ freak like me I guess 🙂 This bill has eliminated the price tag that comes with being tested for sexually transmitted diseases, which I have heard is usually a pretty penny. Every sign so far from reading these articles and just hearing everyday talk around campus, just keep ya pants on 🙂 Less money to be spent, and less worry to be had! BUT THAT WOULD BE A VERY UNPOPULAR OPINION ON MY PART!
For me, I wondered why it was specifically gonorrhea that experienced an increase, and in Colorado of all places! According to articles, the main reason why this is such hard hit, and noticed is due to its less populous area, is what they are saying anyways…. That chlamydia also experienced a surge of cases up to 26,995 in 2019 compared to 45% less cases in 2015. Therefore, its not just gonorrhea which is what they are advertising, but chlamydia as well. It doesn’t discriminate! With that being said, Syphilis cases also doubled its numbers in the past 5 years, all of this being said it seems to me that most of these numbers are reflecting the fact that the rural areas in Colorado do not have the best healthcare. This is kind of an assumption to make on my part but… all signs lead that way.
Something that jumped out to me, was the differences in place in the bill for men versus women. Identifying women apply to the free PREVENTATIVE testing, but men do not. When I say preventative, this means those who are asymptomatic for the STI’s. Men only apply if it is Syphilis being treated, and they must be high risk. 3 weeks ago they were still addressing these measure and suggesting modification, and that is to come I believe. This seems very controversial to me. But, more importantly where are the funds coming from to give power to this bill? According to the bill only 90,547 dollars will be needed to secure that all woman and exception to a few men cases (syphilis), can get free screenings. The fiscal note also touches on the cost for the bigger parties aka those giving the screenings and how this would be ensured by their various Health Departments.
Overall, these articles was very eye opening and I enjoyed it completely.
MicroBio 