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Sexual Health Awareness Week
January 22, 2009 | Posted by A Wright
Adam Wright, Chair of the Sexual Health Task Group today said "Valentines Day is the perfect time to remind people to look after themselves and their partners. As sexually transmitted infection rates continue to rise in Victoria, the Sexual Health Task Group is aiming to remind the community of the importance of practicing safe sex and having regular sexual health check ups".
Annual surveillance data collected by the Victorian Department of Human Services indicates some alarming trends; with chlamydia being the most frequently reported sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Victoria in 2008 seeing more than 12,000 reported cases - this is a 9% rise from 2007 and is 22% more than 2006. Syphilis rates have also increased, with the number of syphilis infections in Victoria rising from just a single case in 2001 to almost 1000 diagnosed cases within the last two years. "Importantly, not everyone with an STI will experience or notice symptoms", explains Adam, "and while condom use (with water-based lubricant) remains the best method of protection against HIV, it doesn't prevent all STI's. So having a regular sexual health check up is another key strategy for sexually active people to use in looking after their sexual health."
The Sexual Health Task Group is supporting a range of local activities for the community and for professionals working in the region including:
| Date |
Time |
Event |
Location |
Cost |
|
Saturday 7 February
2009
|
9am -2.30pm |
Community Information and Resource Stall |
Barrack Reserve High St.
Healthcote |
Free |
Tuesday 10 February
2009 |
Apointment only |
Pap Screening Clinic |
Inglewood and Districts Health Service
Hospital St
Inglewood |
Small Fee
Call
5431 7000
for an appointment |
Wednesday 11 February
2009 |
10am - 3pm |
Community Information and Resource Stall |
Hargreaves Mall
Bendigo |
Free |
Wednesday 11 February
2009 |
4pm - 6pm |
Sexy Trivia |
B Central
Mundy St
Bendigo |
Free
RSVP
CAN
5443 8355
or
Jo McCann
5434 6000 |
Thursday 12 February
2009 |
9am - 3.30pm |
STIs 101
Getting to know Sexually Transmitted Infections
|
BRIT
Bendigo |
$33.00
RSVP
CAN
5443 8355 |
|
Saturday 14th February 2009
|
10am - 1pm |
STI Clinic |
Bendigo Community Health Central Site.
171 Heagreaves Street Bendigo
|
Free
Ph: 5448 1600 for appointment.
Everyone tested gets a free flower for Valentines day.
|
Free Chlamydia Testing.
Chlamydia is the most common STI in Australia. Often people can have Chlamydia and not even know it. Testing ho
wever is very quick and simple and involves only a urine sample. The good news is that Chlamydia can be cured and treatment is easy. To encourage residents to get tested, cards will be widely distributed throughout the region detailing where they can receive a free Chlamydia test.
Bendigo Communtiy Health Services will be providing free chlamydia testing at both their Central and Eaglehawk sites throughout Sexual Health Awareness Week. To promote chlamydia testing cards will be distrbuited through out the week.
If you would like a free chlamydia test but have not recieved a card please call Bendigo Community Health Service to make an appointment on 5448 1600, or download and print a card.