Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 November 2023
356. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the significant rise in sexually transmitted diseases; if he intends to launch a new public health campaign to highlight this rise and encourage safe sex practises and testing; the status of the new national sexual health strategy; the timeline he is working towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51789/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Sexual Health Strategy, 2015-2020, (NSHS), was launched in October 2015 and is implemented by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP), who oversee sexual health services.
Following stakeholder consultation and an independent review, the Strategy is currently being refreshed; an updated version is currently being drafted and will be published in Q1-2, 2024. The Review of the NSHS, conducted by Crowe Ireland and published in March, 2023, identified 56 Priority Actions, of which 49 were assessed as having been successfully progressed.
STI rates, which are rising both nationally and internationally, will be considered as a priority in redrafting the NSHS as will resourcing for STI prevention, testing, diagnosis and treatment.
Current priority sexual health deliverables include:
• Providing sexually transmitted infection (STI) services, including HIV, through the national network of 23 STI clinics and through expansion of the nationwide free home STI testing scheme;
• HIV prevention, including HIV Fast-Track Cities, the Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) programme, research and campaigns to counter stigma. An additional €600,000 to support PrEP services was allocated in Budget 2024;
• Expanding access to free contraception, through the free contraception scheme for women and National Condom Distribution Service (NCDS). The free contraception scheme, currently open to 17-30 year olds, is being expanded to 31 year olds in 2024, following an allocation of €1.3m in Budget 2024;
• Prioritising monitoring, evaluation and research regarding sexual health, including progressing a comprehensive population survey on sexual health;
• Monitoring emerging STIs and changes in pathogenicity and/or transmissibility of existing pathogens;
• Improving sexual health education, training and resources, including schools, higher and further education, through www.sexualwellbeing.ie , in partnership with relevant NGOs, through the HSE Education Support Team in partnership with the DoE, NCCA and PDST and through resources such as Spun Out, Jigsaw, Busy Bodies, Making the Big Talk Many Small Talks, and more;
• Developing a Model of Care for sexual health services.
The free home STI testing scheme was launched on a nationwide basis in October, 2022; the service is available in every county across Ireland. Anyone who is aged 17 or over can order a free STI test to their home or to any other valid postal address in Ireland. Further information on how to access this service can be found at www.sexualwellbeing.ie.
The scheme has been very successful, adding circa 30% of additional STI testing capacity nationally. Those experiencing a reactive result are invited for in-person appointments at one of the 23 public STI clinics for confirmatory testing and treatment, if indicated.
Communication campaigns and information resources regarding STIs are ongoing and include national campaigns such as #Respectprotect for young audiences (18-30 years) and Man2man.ie for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM). Comprehensive information on sexual health and wellbeing, contraception and how to access sexual health services is available on www.sexualwellbeing.ie
The #Respectprotect campaign for young adults is supported by a Sexual Wellbeing outreach team who attended college and nightlife events and concerts to promote safer sex messages, promote access to condoms and lubricant and STI/HIV testing.
The Gay Health Network (GHN) and the HSE work in partnership to deliver the man2man.ie national website and online campaigns to raise awareness about HIV/STIs and prevention, including PrEP, PEP, condom use and testing.
Despite huge advances in HIV treatment, there is a continued existence of HIV-related stigma in Irish society, with a significant impact on people living with HIV. A national HIV stigma campaign in early 2020 focused on the fact that someone on effective treatment cannot pass on HIV to partners, referencing the U=U (undetectable = untransmittable) message. This message continues to be promoted through communications campaigns, with an extended stigma campaign with gbMSM is under development, in collaboration with the gbMSM community.
The HSE is involved in several projects that aim to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings, including an intervention mapping approach to reduce HIV-related stigma in a hospital setting (led by NUIG), and the development of a HIV stigma education module (led by RCSI).
HIV and STI rates are monitored by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre; summary annual reports and weekly STI reports are published and available on the HPSC website at www.hpsc.ie/ .
