Cultural space recently opened by Associação Médica Fluminense (AMF), in Niterói, metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, it currently presents the exhibition “Syphilis: we need to talk more, without prejudice”, uniting history, science and art. The show is curated by Professor Mauro Romero Leal Passos, professor at the Fluminense Federal University (UFF), doctor and researcher in sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In an interview with Agência Brasil, Passos explained that, in fact, the exhibition is an offshoot of another exhibition, of which he was also emeritus curator, held at Paço Imperial, in the city center, between November 2021 and February of last year. “There was still a bit of a pandemic. We made several unique pieces, like an oven, because in the 16th century, it was believed that heating someone with syphilis killed the bacteria.” The exhibition has now gained a new space at the AMF headquarters. Syphilis is a curable and exclusive human STI, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The name of the disease was taken from the epic poem written in 1530 by Girolamo Fracastoro. A replica of Girolamo’s bust was made for the exhibition. There is also an ampoule of penicillin from the 1940s, an ampoule of Neosalvarsan, which is an organoarsenic compound that became available in 1912 and replaced the more toxic and less water soluble Salvasan as an effective treatment for syphilis, among other pieces. . The instruments are displayed along with life-size replicas of paintings by great artists in the history of art, including Toulouse-Lautrec, Rembrandt, Edward Munch, who addressed themes related to syphilis in their works. “We are presenting the exhibition together with certain characteristics and talking about the book by Girolamo Fracastoro, which presents the only version of the Latin poem in Portuguese. Finally, a series of pieces that debate the art, science and history of syphilis.” Current picture In the evaluation of the doctor Mauro Romero Leal Passos, the picture of syphilis in Brazil is one of “calamity. It is a picture that shows that the state of Rio de Janeiro has a high number of child deaths, due to congenital syphilis. There are more than 300 deaths from syphilis”. Passos believes that the number must be much higher due to under-reporting. He explained that the goal to be pursued is 0.5 cases per thousand live births. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), for every 8,000 live births per year, there may be 4 cases of congenital syphilis. “A disease that is easy to diagnose and treat has this volume of congenital syphilis. This has a name called poor quality prenatal care, or poorly done prenatal care, which is what the whole world points out. A country that has well-done prenatal care has a congenital syphilis rate below half a case per thousand live births, such as France, Italy, Germany, United States, Canada, Cuba, which was the first country in the world to eliminate congenital syphilis” . For the doctor, the data in Brazil are of calamity, of negligence. Congenital syphilis is acquired from a mother who has been infected by someone else. “If she doesn’t do the treatment in a timely manner, it’s a case of congenital syphilis.” The basic treatment for eliminating congenital syphilis is the treatment of the mother. “This does not mean that we do not have to treat the sexual partnership. But, primarily, you have to treat the pregnant woman, the mother. That is the main focus.” It is also necessary to prevent men from contracting syphilis, through safe sex, using condoms, so as not to contaminate their partners. Indicators According to Ministry of Health indicators, the number of pregnant women with syphilis, between 2005 and 2022, reached 535,034, with the highest number in the series observed in 2021, with 74,095 cases. In 2022, there were 31,090. The detection rate in 2021 was 27.1 pregnant women per thousand live births. Regarding congenital syphilis in children under one year old, the total in the country was 293,339 between 1998 and 2022, with the highest number recorded in 2021: 27,019. The incidence rate of 9.9 cases of congenital syphilis in children under one year of age per thousand live births was also higher that year. In the state of Rio de Janeiro, there were 25,124 cases in the same period analyzed. With regard to deaths from congenital syphilis in children under one year old, the series reveals a total of 2,886 cases from 2000 to 2021 in the country. The highest gross mortality coefficient per 100,000 live births was 8.9, found in 2018. In the same period, the state of Rio de Janeiro had 366 deaths due to congenital syphilis in children under one year old. Education and health The curator evaluated that the exhibition is an attitude to show that the country needs to have a health education process. “And education goes through culture”. He considers that the exhibition is a unique opportunity for the population to learn about the history of syphilis and demystify prejudices surrounding the disease. The exhibition is now open for free public visitation and will be on display until June this year. The AMF cultural space operates during business hours and welcomes schools. The address is Avenida Roberto Silveira, 123, Icaraí, Niterói. The only space dedicated to health and culture in the city, it was set up to host a diverse program of exhibitions and events.
Agência Brasil
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