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Toilet humour
promotes safer sex message
As
the number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continues
to rise in Northern Ireland the Health Promotion Agency is
using humour to promote the safer sex message in a new sexual
health poster campaign.
The
campaign, 'Never
underestimate peace of mind', launched today targets sexually
active 18-30 year olds and aims to encourage young people
not to be complacent about their sexual health. Posters dealing
with a range of sexual health issues will be displayed in
the toilet areas of pubs and clubs popular with this age group.
Because people spend an average time of almost three minutes
in a toilet cubicle the placing of posters in these areas
is very effective. The posters include information about condom
use, safer sex, contraception and STIs, such as chlamydia,
gonorrhoea and syphilis.
Dr
Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Agency,
speaking during the campaign launch said: "The posters use
tongue-in-cheek humour to get a very serious message across.
Research shows that chlamydia and gonorrhoea are two of the
most commonly diagnosed STIs in Northern Ireland and although
the number of people infected with syphilis is relatively
low there has been a significant increase in the number of
people diagnosed with it. As a result three of the posters
have been designed to raise awareness of these specific infections."
Dr
Gaffney continued: "The campaign also highlights that many
people with an STI may not experience any outward symptoms,
therefore anyone who has been at risk should have a checkup.
If left untreated some STIs could lead to serious health problems
in later years. For this reason it is important that infections
are detected and treated as early as possible.
"lf
someone is sexually active and is not sure about their partner's
sexual or drug history they can risk catching an infection.
It is really important if people have put their sexual health
at risk that they have information about the range of services
available to them and can receive treatment if necessary.
All the posters and leaflets in this campaign promote the
services of the four Genito
Urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinics in Northern Ireland, which
are happy to provide information and advice on STIs as well
as providing checkups and treatment."
In
addition to the 13
posters developed for the campaign, two information
leaflets have been produced and will be available from
dispensers attached to some of the posters. One leaflet focuses
on safer sex and contraception while the other focuses on
syphilis.
The
posters and information leaflets will be displayed in 60 pubs
and clubs, including gay-friendly venues, throughout Northern
Ireland. The campaign will run from July 2002 until March
2003.
End
Notes
to the editor: The
four Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinics in Northern Ireland
are:
| *Royal
Victoria Hospital |
Tel:
028 9089 4777 |
| Altnagelvin
Hospital |
Tel:
028 7161 1269 |
| Causeway
Hospital |
Tel:
028 7034 6028 |
| Daisy
Hill Hospital |
Tel:
028 3083 5050 |
*As
of 16/09/02 the RVH's GUM Clinic operates on an appointment
only system. To make an appointment telephone the number above
or try the main RVH number 028 9024 0503 Ext. 4050
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