Sexual Health Week 2010

Sexual Health is GOOD for PEOPLE of all ages

We are having a very good start of our SEXUAL HEALTH WEEK that is running from 13 to 19 September. We are giving plenty of information out and oureaching people from all ages from young people to midle aged people who are right at the centre on this years sexual health week. African Institute is providing information, condoms, HIV Prevention DVDs, Do It Right gender campaign from NAHIP programme, and are doing demonstration of proper condom use for small groups in African Small Business.

AISD Campaigners in Nottinghamshire joined others nationally to say many middle-aged people and pensioners are either embarrassed about buying contraception, and because of the stigma associated with venereal disease “VD” among older generations they are less likely to ask for advice. VD is being known as STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections)

Others are said to believe, wrongly, that using condoms is unnecessary if they can no longer have children.
But recent figures show that almost 13,000 men and women over 45 years old were diagnosed with a Sexually Transmitted Infection last year, double the numbers recorded a decade earlier, while more older men contracted herpes than teenage boys.
In response, FPA, the sexual health charity, has launched what it believes is the first-ever awareness campaign aimed specifically at the over-50s.
Called The Middle-age Spread, it involves fashion adverts from the 1970s that have been turned into posters with a photograph of a condom and the slogan: “Remember wearing this? Then remember to wear this!”
Julie Bentley, chief executive of the FPA, said: “We celebrate the positive and fulfilling sexuality of the over 50s, but we also have to get the message across that STIs don’t care about greying hair and a few wrinkles. This is a concerning situation which unless we take action now is only going to get worse.”
She went on: “There is very little sexual health information and services for the over 50s, and current campaigns, however good, are exclusively for the young.
“Sex is something very personal, we can all find it difficult to talk about and this can be particularly true for older generations.
“Many over 50s, relieved contraception is no longer an issue, forget about using condoms. Others haven’t had to think about using condoms for decades, let alone go into a shop and buy them.
“Worries about confidentiality stop them going to clinics which tend to be more geared for young people. We often have the over 50s asking our helpline whether they are allowed to attend because of their age.
“We need to do more to encourage the over 50s to access sexual health clinics. Running sessions specifically for the over 50s would make people feel more comfortable about using services.”

Prevention is key in addressing incurable STIs, such as HIV & herpes. Mr Juma ,AISD Director said on Saturday 11th Sept while launching sexual health week for this year near the African House in Nottingham City

The most effective way to prevent sexual transmission of STIs is to avoid contact of body parts or fluids which can lead to transfer with an infected partner. No contact minimizes risk. Not all sexual activities involve contact: cybersex, phonesex or masturbation from a distance are methods of avoiding contact. Proper use of condoms reduces contact and risk. Although a condom is effective in limiting exposure, some disease transmission may occur even with a condom.

Ideally, both partners should get tested for STIs before initiating sexual contact, or before resuming contact if a partner engaged in contact with someone else. Many infections are not detectable immediately after exposure, so enough time must be allowed between possible exposures and testing for the tests to be accurate. Certain STIs, particularly certain persistent viruses like HPV, may be impossible to detect with current medical procedures.