Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
1725. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if a needs assessment and mapping exercise to identify the status of existing sexual health services and current gaps has been carried out as recommended in the National Sexual Health Strategy; his plans to carry out a similar exercise to specifically identify the needs of the LGBTQ+ community in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18804/21]
View answerThe National Sexual Health Strategy, 2015-2020 was launched in October 2015. It takes a life course approach, acknowledging the importance of developing a healthy attitude to sexuality in young people and of building on that foundation for positive sexual health and wellbeing into adulthood and older age. It also recognises the importance of challenging stigma and discrimination and creating positive cultural change to promote open communication about relationships, sexuality, and sexual health and wellbeing.
The goals of the Strategy are:
- Everyone in Ireland to receive comprehensive and age-appropriate sexual health education/information and to have access to appropriate prevention and promotion services;
- Equitable, accessible and high-quality sexual health services, which are targeted and tailored to need, to be available to everyone; and
- Robust and high-quality sexual health information to be generated to underpin policy, practice, service planning and strategic monitoring.
Current priority deliverables under the Strategy are HIV prevention, including the Fast-Track Cities initiative and continued expansion of a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) programme, which commenced in late 2019.
Other key areas of work include expanding access to contraception, free of charge, through the National Condom Distribution Service; provision of sexually transmitted infection (STI) services, progressing a population survey on sexual health and improving sexual health education, training and resources, including in schools, higher and further education and those for use by parents.
A 2018 mid-term review of the Sexual Health Strategy highlighted key contributors to success. These include the composition and expertise of the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy programme team, the cross functional approach (education, training, communications, funding, research, clinical) and the strong engagement and collaboration with stakeholders throughout all aspects of implementation of the strategy.
Given the breadth of the Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020, the strategy remains relevant beyond its original timeframe. Consequently, and due to particular pressures during 2020 as a result of the pandemic, it has been agreed with the SHCPP to extend the lifetime of the current Strategy to the end of 2021. It is intended to review and refresh the Strategy in 2021 and work on this is commencing.
It is envisaged that, as part of the review process, focus group meetings with key stakeholders, including clinical and public health staff, the SHCPP team, those working in the STI clinics, the Education sector, the Department of Health and Women’s Health Taskforce, the research and academic sector and organisations representing the LGBTI+ community will be held to inform the future direction of the next iteration of the strategy.
