By Linda Kor A serious health concern in Navajo County has prompted county health officials to reach out to communities for help in educating the public. A meeting held in Show Low Feb. 4 was attended by medical professionals, law enforcement, school officials and other representatives of children’s welfare, who addressed concerns regarding a dramatic increase in sexually transmitted diseases in the county. The meeting opened with a startling statistic from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) that in 2013, Show Low reported 1,123 cases of sexually transmitted diseases within a population of 10,730 residents. That figure ranked the city 49th in the nation for most sexually diseased cities, according to a compilation published by Rentapplication.com. The data reported cities with a population of 50,000 or more, but Show Low’s figure was so high that it was included in the report. “These numbers are based on home addresses, not medical hubs. Tucson is the next highest city in Arizona,” noted Janelle Linn, interim assistant director of Navajo County Health Services. Tucson did not make the top 100 list. Although the figures for Show Low were high, another disturbing fact is that Navajo County ranked first in the state for the number of residents with Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, with Apache County coming in second, indicating that other communities in the county have high rates as well. According to the ADHS, the number of reported cases of Chlamydia in Navajo County increased 34.5 percent from 2004 to 2013, with adolescents from 10 to 19 years of age representing 25 percent of the cases in 2013. Among Arizona adolescents and females, Navajo County had the highest rates of reported sexually transmitted diseases in the state. Linn reported that seven out of 10 sexually active teens between the ages of 10 and 19 have Chlamydia even though the disease is easily treated and curable. Without treatment, the disease can seriously damage a woman’s reproductive organs, as well as the eyes, throat and lungs. Many people who have the disease may not exhibit symptoms, and if left unrecognized and untreated, Chlamydia can even cause infertility. HIV is also on the rise, as Linn reported that the latest figures available show that in 2013 there were 13 cases of HIV reported in the county, the highest annual increase since 2002. She noted that in this fiscal year alone five new cases have been reported. In an effort to educate teens regarding their health, the county’s health services use the Smart Girls and Wise Guys programs. “We try to get into schools and educate students. Holbrook schools are great participants in this program, with every student required to complete the program, but not all schools will let us come in and talk to students,” stated Heather Lucas, a nurse with county health services. She explained that the 12-week program is tailored to each age group, and addresses students in both junior high and high school. “We use it to increase family connections and communication, learn anatomy, and develop and understand the real risk of sexually transmitted diseases,” she said. “We can no longer ignore this problem. The numbers are increasing in our county and we know that soon Gonorrhea may not be treatable,” stated Allison Hephner, community outreach specialist for the Navajo County Health District, referring to the fact the disease has become antibiotic resistant. To bring the message to parents, Cellular One is sponsoring a series of presentations that will be hosted by Amy Lang, a nationally recognized sexual health educator, on ways to communicate with children regarding their bodies and health. The series will take place June 7-11 on the Navajo Nation, and in Holbrook and Snowflake. Cellular One is also assisting in informing the public by requesting that prominent community members take part in public service announcements paid for by the company to relay the important message regarding the health of families in the county. “It’s a touchy subject, but we need to change these numbers, and the only way to do it is to become educated and talk to our kids openly. This is beyond anything we can do alone,” Hephner said, adding that the number of cases has prompted her to react and she’s hoping that others who learn about them will do the same. To learn more about the services and education offered by the Navajo County Health District, contact Hephner by email at allison.hephner@navajocountyaz.gov or by phone at (928) 524-4230, ext. 5073.