Smoking kills so they say. Yet, the same people promote sex outside of marriage. I say all of that because some years ago I wrote a letter to the Editor of the local paper on the issue of sexually transmitted diseases. I related that these would be curtailed and even eliminated if people followed Biblical monogamous lives and marriages. A nurse with the Health system responded in a negative letter saying monogamy was not the answer. Well, that is why we are reading the following article which appeared November 7, 2017.

‘People in the state’s west have been urged to “protect your sexual health” after a national report found a dramatic increase in rates of gonorrhoea and HIV in certain demographic groups.

The report by the University of NSW’s Kirby Institute revealed the number of Australians diagnosed with gonorrhoea increased by 63 per cent in the past five years, with spikes in the number of men and heterosexual city-dwellers infected.

Regional reports of gonorrhoea increased by 15 per cent, while remote areas declined by 8 per cent.

Rates of gonorrhoea were seven times higher among Indigenous Australians, and three times higher for chlamydia compared with the non-Indigenous population.

Overall, HIV diagnoses have remained the same over the past five years, with 1013 new diagnoses in 2016 compared with 1066 in 2012.

However, HIV transmission among Indigenous Australians has increased by 39 per cent since 2012.

“Because of the very small numbers, it is difficult to see a reliable trend,” Western NSW LHD manager HIV/AIDS and Related Programs, Ann Ryan, said.

“However the findings of the Kirby Institute’s research is a timely reminder that everyone needs to protect their sexual health.

“Your family doctor or the Dubbo sexual health clinic can provide advice on how to reduce your risk of exposure, and arrange testing and treatment where needed.””http://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/5038909/dubbo-residents-urged-to-check-sexual-health-graph/?cs=122

Even a non-Christian with common sense should see that a monogamous lifestyle before marriage and a mongamous marriage would be the answer! However, note the word common-sense!