Sexual health is at the heart of St Valentine’s campaign
A sexual health campaign developed to coincide with St Valentine’s Day has been produced by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) in collaboration with the Family Planning Association (fpa).
A series of radio advertisements aimed at 18 to 25 year olds will be broadcast this week to encourage safer sex, raise awareness about the risks of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancy among sexually active young people in Northern Ireland.
Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the HPA, said: “Sexual health is an important part of our overall health and wellbeing, yet it can get overlooked. Young people are often reluctant to talk about their sexual health or seek help due to embarrassment, ignorance or fear of the unknown.
“This radio campaign is a humorous way to get a very serious message across. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to our sexual health – it can lead to a number of serious yet preventable health problems, which if left untreated can have long-term consequences. Anyone concerned about their sexual health should make an appointment with their GP or get in touch with their local Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic.”
The most recent figures for Northern Ireland show that the number of new cases of uncomplicated chlamydia, uncomplicated gonorrhoea, genital herpes and syphilis have all increased between 2005 and 2006, while new cases of genital warts and HIV have decreased. The highest rate of infection for uncomplicated gonorrhoea and genital warts is among 20 to 24 year old men and women. The highest rate of genital herpes infection is among women aged 20 to 24.1
Audrey Simpson, Director of the fpa, said: “It is very easy to think ‘it will never happen to me!’ But if you take risks with your sexual health then an unplanned pregnancy or getting a sexually transmitted infection can happen to anyone. The humorous tone of this radio campaign will engage young people and alert them to the consequences of sexual ill-health.”
In addition to the radio ads, a number of sexual health events supported by the HPA and the Sexual Health Information Exchange Group (SHIEG) will be taking place across Northern Ireland.2 The events are targeted at those involved in sexual health promotion and aim to promote sexual health initiatives linked with risk-taking behaviour and highlight the importance of developing resilience in young people.
END
Notes to the Editor
The five radio advertisements will run from Monday 11 February to Friday 15 February on DTR/Cool FM, Citybeat, Q102 and Talksport.
For information and advice contact the fpa helpline on Tel: 0845 122 8687.
Northern Health and Social Care Trust
Janice Armstrong, Health Promotion Officer for Sexual Health
Tel: 028 2563 5575.
Eastern Health and Social Services Board
Joe Harris or Joanna Gregg, Sexual Health Coordinators
Tel: 028 9082 1524.
Western Health and Social Services Board
Majella Magee, Health Promotion Manager
Tel: 028 7186 5127.
Southern Health and Social Care Trust
Lyndsey McCann, Health Promotion Officer for Sexual Health
Tel: 028 3741 2424.
For media enquiries contact:
The HPA Press Office on Tel: 028 9031 1611or the fpa on Tel: 028 9032 5488.
1Health Protection Agency and Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (NI). HIV and STI surveillance in Northern Ireland: 2007.
2The Sexual Health Information Exchange Group (SHIEG) is facilitated by the HPA and includes representatives from each of the health and social care trusts, the Genito Urinary Medicine Clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital and a range of voluntary and community organisations.
|
