Veraguas health authorities alert to HIV and syphilis in pregnant women

Health authorities in Panama have issued an alert following the diagnosis of nine pregnant women with both HIV and syphilis in the province of Veraguas this year. During a technical meeting involving health representatives from Veraguas and the Ngäbe-Buglé region, officials analyzed local epidemiological statistics to address the rising concern.

In addition to the cases among pregnant women, Veraguas has recorded 50 new HIV diagnoses and 11 deaths related to the virus so far this year. National data from the Ministry of Health (Minsa) indicates an upward trend in infections; in 2024, 991 pregnant women were diagnosed with syphilis compared to 964 in 2023, while congenital syphilis cases rose from 251 to 270.

Health officials are emphasizing the need for increased prenatal screening, timely testing, and improved counseling, particularly for young populations and those in hard-to-reach areas. They have also called for greater use of protection and responsible sexual practices to curb the spread of sexually transmitted infections.