We normally bring you news of upcoming music gigs or art events. Sometimes we cover planning issues or strange goings-on in the council, so we were left scratching our heads when we got an invite to the launch of a new Sexual Health Service on the Island. But delighted all the same.
After recently hearing that last year was the first for many that the Isle of Wight wasn’t at (or near – please correct me if I’m wrong – just going on what I heard on the radio) the top of the teenage pregnancy league tables, we figured it was an issue well worth highlighting.
Baroness Gould, who is chair of the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV, officially launched the service last night.
The Integrated Sexual Health Service (ISHS) links together all aspects of Island sexual health services with the aim to provide prompt and convenient access to high quality sexual healthcare. The aim of the ISHS is to provide consistent and equitable sexual health services across the Island – co-ordinating public health messages, involving service users in shaping services, continuing to reduce the incidences of teenage pregnancy and implementing the national roll out of phase 3 of Chlamydia screening together with improving access for disadvantaged groups.
The new ISHS will be launched at an education and training event on 29 March with an audience of health professionals, including GPs, nurses, consultants and therapists. The event will also launch the condom distribution scheme and the national Chlamydia screening programme.
The consequences of poor sexual health can be serious and unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections can have a long lasting impact on people’s lives. Island services are now tackling government targets by integrating the award winning Genito-Urinary Medicine and Contraceptive Services.
Well done to all involved. We hope that they’ll continue to keep their end up. We’re behind them all the way and if we can give a hand in anyway, we’re always delighted to.
