Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including gonorrhoea and syphilis have hit record levels in Europe, according to new data.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said both diseases had reached their highest levels in over 10 years in 2024.

Gonorrhoea hit 106,331 cases – a 303% increase since 2015 – while syphilis more than doubled in the same period to 45,557.

The health agency said “widening gaps in testing and prevention” were partly behind the surge in transmission, and called for urgent action.

“These infections can cause severe complications, such as chronic pain and infertility and, in the case of syphilis, problems with the heart or nervous system,” said Bruno Ciancio, the head of the agency’s Directly Transmitted and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases unit.

He said congenital syphilis cases – “where infections pass directly to newborns, leading to potentially lifelong complications” – had nearly doubled from 2023 to 2024.

“Protecting your sexual health remains straightforward. Use condoms with new or multiple partners, and get tested if you have symptoms.”

Spain had the highest number of confirmed gonorrhoea and syphilis cases of the participating European countries in 2024, at 37,169 and 11,556.

The ECDC said men who had sex with men remained the most disproportionately affected group, showing the steepest long-term rises in gonorrhoea and syphilis.

It also reported that heterosexual women of a reproductive age saw large increases in syphilis.

While chlamydia was still the most commonly reported bacterial infection overall, cases had fallen 6% since 2015 to 213,443.

The UK has not been part of the research since Brexit, but the government releases its own figures for England each year.

According to a UK Health Security Agency report published in December, there were 71,802 gonorrhoea cases in England in 2024, and 9,535 syphilis cases.

There were 168,889 chlamydia diagnoses during the same 12 months.

The UK rolled out a gonorrhoea vaccine in 2025 after it hit a record 85,000 cases in 2023.

Gonorrhoea symptoms can include pain, unusual discharge and inflammation of the genitals – but in some cases no symptoms emerge.

The NHS says it can be avoided by the proper use of condoms and by accepting the vaccine if offered.

Syphilis symptoms include sores around the genitals and mouth, a rash on the hands, hair loss and flu-like symptoms. They are often hard to notice at first, and can come and go over time.

Like gonorrhoea, it can be avoided by using condoms and treated with antibiotics. Both can cause serious problems if left untreated.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Prof. Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), succeeding Prof. Is-haq Oloyede.

Oloyede’s tenure expires on July 31.

Aina, who turns 40 in July, is a distinguished academic and systems expert with extensive experience in examination systems, digital infrastructure, institutional reform, and public-sector technology-driven operational transformation across Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday in Abuja.

Aina holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent and earned both his MSc and PhD from Loughborough University, United Kingdom.

He obtained an MSc in Internet Computing and Network Security and a PhD in Digital Signal Processing, before completing the Senior Management Programme at the Lagos Business School.

A Professor of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Aina began his professional engagement with JAMB during his National Youth Service, gaining experience in admissions administration and institutional systems management.

The presidency said those early experiences shaped his long-standing contributions to examination reforms, systems optimisation, and technology-driven educational administration across Nigeria’s public sector and national assessment institutions.

With more than 15 years of post-graduation experience, Aina has operated at the intersection of technology, governance, and institutional transformation, advising federal and state governments on digital transition and systems reform.

At 39, he became one of Nigeria’s youngest professors of Computer Engineering and will now emerge as the youngest Registrar ever appointed to lead the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

He has also served as consultant to major examination bodies, including NECO, NABTEB and several state ministries of education on ICT systems, examination integrity and digital process optimisation initiatives nationwide.

Aina is a member of several professional organisations, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, Nigerian Society of Engineers, IEEE and the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Tinubu expressed confidence that Aina would deploy his experience, technical expertise and institutional knowledge to consolidate on reforms and advance the operational efficiency of the nation’s critical examination body.

The president also commended Oloyede for his service and achievements, expressing optimism that the incoming registrar would sustain and surpass the standards already established at the Board.

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (N&MCN), on Thursday, inducted 57 maiden graduates of the Department of Nursing Science of the Rev. Fr.

Moses Orshio Adasu University Makurdi. (MOAUM) into the Nursing profession with a charge on them to maintain utmost integrity and the ethics of the profession.

NMCN Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Alhasan Ndagi who gave the charge during the induction ceremony held at the College of Health Sciences of the Fr. Adasu University, further enjoined the new nurses to combine clinical competence with compassion, excellence and sincerity, stating that empathy remains the cornerstone of quality patient care.

Dr. Ndagi who was represented by Patricia Amonuobi, insisted that nursing is a service-driven profession requiring empathy, attentiveness, and kindness.

He said the Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) degree equips graduates with the capacity to make accurate diagnoses, design and implement care plans, and evaluate patient outcomes holistically.

The induction, Dr. Ndagi noted, marks their transition into certified professionals, with their names to be entered into the NMCN register as Registered Nurses (RN) following their oath-taking.

He urged them to develop health promotion strategies, evaluate care outcomes, and work both independently and collaboratively within the healthcare system.

“The professional exams you have taken are designed to strategically position you for a competitive job in the healthcare sector in the global market. You must provide healthcare for the sick and hold unto secrets volunteer to you by patients.

“You will proceed on a one year internship and during this period, you will be offered a temporary licence and upon completion of your internship based on your performance and conduct, the council will issue you a permanent licence”, Dr. Ndagi said.

In his address at the ceremony, Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, advised the graduands to be of good conduct, adding that behind every chat, every diagnosis and treatment plan is a human being whose life they can improve through their skills and kindness.

The governor who was represented by his deputy, Sam Odeh, reiterated his administration’s commitment in supporting the University and other institutions in providing the manpower needed to drive the developmental agenda of his administration especially in the health sector.

In a remark, Vice Chancellor of MOAUM, Prof. Timothy Alabar, appealed to the graduates to be worthy ambassadors of the institution, stressing that as pioneers in the first set of graduands they were trained on competent, ethical and compassion to address the growing health care needs of Benue State, Nigeria and beyond.

In a guest lecture, Dr. Ukemde Freeman, emphasised critical thinking and soft skills as essential tools for modern nursing practice, urging continuous self-improvement and patient-centred care.

He also called on healthcare institutions to prioritise communication and interpersonal skills traianing.