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KATHERINE O'NEILL
Globe and Mail Update
February 17, 2009 at 7:08 AM EST
EDMONTON — It's been a soldier's enemy throughout history - sexually transmitted diseases.
And now internal military documents show a sharp new increase in the number of Canadian soldiers being treated for venereal diseases, particularly chlamydia.
According to documents obtained by The Globe and Mail under federal access to information laws, the number of reported chlamydia cases the Canadian Forces treated surged 71 per cent - to 234 in 2007 from 137 in 2003.
The internal documents state one of the most troubling findings has been that the rates of chlamydia infections among male soldiers under 30 years of age is "substantially higher" than their Canadian civilian counterparts, and the situation demanded "special attention."
The Canadian military has long battled sexually transmitted diseases of all types. In fact, the world's first sex-education film was made for Canadian soldiers during the First World War.
At the time, the Canadian military was concerned that the high rates of venereal diseases, particularly syphilis, were leaving too many soldiers unfit for duty.
The 38-minute-long silent film, entitled Whatsoever a Man Soweth, was funded by the British government in 1917.
The story follows a young Canadian soldier named Dick who encounters a prostitute in London's Trafalgar Square while he's on leave from the front lines. A passing Canadian officer warns him away from her.
"Do you realise, young man, the risks you run in association with that woman?" he asks (the question is posed in a caption).
Dick then goes on to learn about the effects of venereal diseases, highlighted by graphic pictures of rotting hands and legs.
Since the First World War, the Canadian military has given out free condoms to its members, no questions asked. It's a practice that continues to this day.
Lieutenant-Colonel James Anderson, director of force health protection with the Canadian military, said it's difficult to determine "definitively" why there has been a new increase in sexually transmitted infection cases, particularly chlamydia.
"We know that we have an issue, we know that we have a vulnerable at-risk population," he said.
In 2007, Chlamydia accounted for 94 per cent of all the venereal diseases the military treated.
Of those cases, 62 per cent were male soldiers under the age of 30. In 2007, there were also 13 cases of gonorrhea and two cases of syphilis reported.
Lt.-Col. Anderson said that all members of the military receive briefings about venereal diseases and safe-sex practices throughout their career.
He said the military's public-health and reporting practices may be one of the reasons it has found higher rates of chlamydia among young, male soldiers.
He explained that those soldiers often receive more or regular health checkups than their civilian counterparts.
Lt.-Col. Anderson added that whenever an infection is diagnosed, it's standard for the military to then track down the patient's former sexual partners in an effort to have them tested as well. If the people are civilians, often the appropriate health authority is notified.
A Canadian Forces medic, who didn't want to be identified, said he's concerned that young soldiers often don't take venereal diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea seriously because they are treatable and don't normally affect their ability to serve.
"They know if they get it, they can easily get a pill and the problem goes away. That attitude needs to change," he said.
The Alberta-based soldier said reckless and risky sexual behaviour is a problem on some Canadian military bases.
He said that during his tour in Afghanistan last year, he treated some soldiers for venereal diseases after they returned from their leaves.
Article Link
Of course they do not say what the national figures are.
Globe and Mail Update
February 17, 2009 at 7:08 AM EST
EDMONTON — It's been a soldier's enemy throughout history - sexually transmitted diseases.
And now internal military documents show a sharp new increase in the number of Canadian soldiers being treated for venereal diseases, particularly chlamydia.
According to documents obtained by The Globe and Mail under federal access to information laws, the number of reported chlamydia cases the Canadian Forces treated surged 71 per cent - to 234 in 2007 from 137 in 2003.
The internal documents state one of the most troubling findings has been that the rates of chlamydia infections among male soldiers under 30 years of age is "substantially higher" than their Canadian civilian counterparts, and the situation demanded "special attention."
The Canadian military has long battled sexually transmitted diseases of all types. In fact, the world's first sex-education film was made for Canadian soldiers during the First World War.
At the time, the Canadian military was concerned that the high rates of venereal diseases, particularly syphilis, were leaving too many soldiers unfit for duty.
The 38-minute-long silent film, entitled Whatsoever a Man Soweth, was funded by the British government in 1917.
The story follows a young Canadian soldier named Dick who encounters a prostitute in London's Trafalgar Square while he's on leave from the front lines. A passing Canadian officer warns him away from her.
"Do you realise, young man, the risks you run in association with that woman?" he asks (the question is posed in a caption).
Dick then goes on to learn about the effects of venereal diseases, highlighted by graphic pictures of rotting hands and legs.
Since the First World War, the Canadian military has given out free condoms to its members, no questions asked. It's a practice that continues to this day.
Lieutenant-Colonel James Anderson, director of force health protection with the Canadian military, said it's difficult to determine "definitively" why there has been a new increase in sexually transmitted infection cases, particularly chlamydia.
"We know that we have an issue, we know that we have a vulnerable at-risk population," he said.
In 2007, Chlamydia accounted for 94 per cent of all the venereal diseases the military treated.
Of those cases, 62 per cent were male soldiers under the age of 30. In 2007, there were also 13 cases of gonorrhea and two cases of syphilis reported.
Lt.-Col. Anderson said that all members of the military receive briefings about venereal diseases and safe-sex practices throughout their career.
He said the military's public-health and reporting practices may be one of the reasons it has found higher rates of chlamydia among young, male soldiers.
He explained that those soldiers often receive more or regular health checkups than their civilian counterparts.
Lt.-Col. Anderson added that whenever an infection is diagnosed, it's standard for the military to then track down the patient's former sexual partners in an effort to have them tested as well. If the people are civilians, often the appropriate health authority is notified.
A Canadian Forces medic, who didn't want to be identified, said he's concerned that young soldiers often don't take venereal diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea seriously because they are treatable and don't normally affect their ability to serve.
"They know if they get it, they can easily get a pill and the problem goes away. That attitude needs to change," he said.
The Alberta-based soldier said reckless and risky sexual behaviour is a problem on some Canadian military bases.
He said that during his tour in Afghanistan last year, he treated some soldiers for venereal diseases after they returned from their leaves.
Article Link
Of course they do not say what the national figures are.
