A new program for Chlamydia Test

Teenagers are being offered a chlamydia test or sex advice from a “sex bus” parked on Bournemouth beach. The new scheme is part of the Bournemouth Summer of Love program, which aims to reduce the number of sexually transmitted infections and teenage pregnancies amongst the adolescent population in the area.

Children as young as 13 are being welcomed onto the bus, where as well as being offered chlamydia screening they will be given leaflets, gifts and shown DVDs aimed at educating them about sexual health.

However no proof of age with be required and workers have been instructed to use their judgement to decide whether someone is old enough to get a chlamydia test or be given advice.

The scheme was launched by Bournemouth Borough Council, who have come up with the slogan “R U Sure Ur Really Ready?” to promote it.  The head of Youth Service at Bournemouth Council, Tim Fewell, said, “This is very much focused on the idea of encouraging young people to delay sexual activity until they are ready. It is also extremely important that we are realistic. Where young people are having sexual contact we need to ensure they know about contraception and understand the consequences so they can make educated choices."

So far, 100 teens have come to the bus when it was taken for its first outing last Friday and taken up the offer of chlamydia screening or accepted leaflets.

However the scheme has come under criticism. Local parents have said that as the beach is a popular location for families to come to, they have been put in an awkward situation when their children asked them what the bus was there for.

A campaign group, Family Education Trust, have also said that there is no evidence supporting the policy of giving out free contraception to teenagers. Their spokesperson said that “the only sure way of avoiding sexual infection is to keep sexual intimacy within the context of a lifelong, mutually faithful relationship with an uninfected partner.”

Norman Well’s criticism seemed at first to focus on the free contraception being given out, but then he added, “There is not a shred of evidence to show that ignorance of contraception is responsible for high rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.”

While Mr. Well’s comments are certainly very disputable, further concern was raised by the cost of the scheme, coming in at £1,5000. However since the cost to the taxpayer of a single teenage pregnancy, or treating infertility caused by undiagnosed chlamydia, if far higher it could be argued this is a rather a  bargain.

Article Source: http://www.info-hog.com