Way back in 1999, two pilot screening programmes set up in England by the Government showed as many as one in 10 young women under 25 were infected with chlamydia. Many health and youth workers went to considerable effort to raise awareness about chlamydia and other STIs by embarking on local campaigns.
Four years on, you might imagine this serious threat to young people's health would have been comprehensively tackled. Not so. The screening programme so urgently needed is being slowly implemented because of the familiar refrain of a "lack of resources". Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland haven't got a programme of their own yet. The recent select committee report into sexual health echoed calls from those working with young people for an immediate implementation of screening nationwide, but greater investment remains the key and it is just not forthcoming.
What kind of message does this give young people about the value placed on their sexual health? How long must they wait for services to help protect their future fertility? Every week young men and women continue to get and pass on infections that could cause them serious health problems.
Lack of investment and real political interest will come as no surprise to those of us who work in the sector. Sex and relationships education, which can develop the skills young people need to prevent them getting an STI, remains outside the national curriculum. British culture shows a marked ambivalence towards teenage sexuality, and ideological differences about morality have a real impact on our ability to prioritise the needs of young people. Young people's sexuality continues to be seen as a problem.
Delivering clear and explicit advice remains impossible for many, to the cost of individual young lives.
There is some excellent work being done at local level in schools and through youth and community education programmes, but young people deserve a concerted national approach. Why should they wait any longer for such a fundamental right?
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