Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Dec 2000

Vol. 527 No. 5

Written Answers. - Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

65 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he will take to address the threat to public health posed by the spread of sexually transmitted diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28920/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The health boards are statutorily responsible for the control and prevention of infectious diseases, including sexually transmitted infection. Services for the treatment of sexually transmitted infection are available in a number of locations around the country. With increasing numbers of people presenting with a range of sexually transmitted infections, a priority for 2001 is the appointment of two new infectious diseases consultants in the Dublin area and one in the Western Health Board. Funding for these posts is being made available by my Department in 2001.

Health boards also undertake information and awareness activities at regional level and among the issues addressed is the prevention of sexually transmitted inflection. Where appropriate, the health boards work in conjunction with voluntary organisations in this regard.

At national level, the health promotion unit of my Department has maintained a sexual health and safe sex awareness programme for a number of years. This programme involves the display of safe sex messages in the toilet areas of places of entertainment frequented by young people, such as pubs and youth clubs.

I recently launched a further public awareness campaign, entitled Think Twice Every Time, and this is targeted at men and women in the 18 to 35 year age group. The aim of this campaign is to help educate, inform and empower people about their relationships and their sexuality. The principal message of the campaign will be that both partners are responsible for their own and each other's sexual health. In particular, both partners must take responsibility for preventing unwanted pregnancy and avoiding sexually transmitted infection. The campaign will seek to raise awareness about such issues as the fertility of the body, how pregnancy occurs, the safe and correct use of contraception, the prevention of sexually transmitted infection and the effect alcohol can have in relation to decision making and risk taking.

The campaign will involve a number of focused initiatives including regional workshops, a poster campaign and a public information booklet. It will be implemented in partnership with the health boards, other statutory and non-statutory bodies and a range of interest groups.

Question No. 66 taken with Question No. 16.