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Public urged
not to gamble with their sexual health
The
Health Promotion Agency and the Family
Planning Association (fpaNI) are urging the public not
to gamble with their sexual health on the eve of 'World AIDS
Day' as the number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
in Northern Ireland continues to rise.
Current
figures show that 225 people in Northern Ireland have been
diagnosed with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The main risk
factor for HIV infection here is sex between men, with three
out of five people acquiring the virus in this way while more
than one in four people acquired the virus heterosexually.
Dr
Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Agency
said: "These figures show that we must not be complacent about
our sexual health. We should also be concerned about other
infections, such as syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea, not
just HIV and AIDS.
"Research
shows there is still considerable ignorance in Northern Ireland
about sex and sexuality which results in confusion, unhappiness
and relationship difficulties. It is therefore vital that
we provide clear, factual information so people will be well
informed and ensure their sexual behaviour does not put their
health or even their life at risk."
With
this in mind the Health Promotion Agency and the Family Planning
Association have produced a series of fact
sheets on a range of sexual health issues. Audrey Simpson,
Director of the fpaNI, further emphasised the need for people
of all ages to be able to access reliable and credible information.
She said: "Each year as part of the Contraceptive
Education Service the fpaNI produces a series of
updated fact sheets on sexual health issues. These include
teenage pregnancy, abortion, family planning services in Northern
Ireland, sex education in schools and the legal position regarding
contraceptive advice and provision to young people. This year
the series has been extended to include a fact sheet on STIs.
"Having
good sexual health is an element of our total wellbeing, so
it is important that all those involved in encouraging people
to protect their sexual health promote the safer sex message
and raise awareness of the services that are available throughout
Northern Ireland."
The
fact sheets are available from the fpaNI and can also be located
on this website.
END
Notes
to the editor: Figures
provided by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (NI).
Figures
taken up until September 2001 show that 225 people had been
diagnosed with HIV in Northern Ireland.
The
Contraceptive Education service is a partnership between the
Health Promotion Agency and the Family Planning Association.
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