Holiday fun seekers target of health alert

Information wallets are being dished out at the terminal building because of concerns about teenagers and young adults picking up diseases while on their summer holidays.

Doncaster Primary Care Trust has produced the stay safe campaign to coincide with this year’s national Sexual Health Week, which starts today. They plan to remind those most at risk - teenagers and young adults - that a condom provides the best protection against sexually transmitted illnesses.

Posters and postcards featuring a suitcase alongside the names of STIs and carrying the slogan “Anything to declare?” are being displayed at the airport - as well as youth centres, drop-in centres, housing projects, surgeries and libraries.

Information wallets, specially designed to hold a condom, are also being handed out free of charge.

The campaign was kicked off at the airport by Ffion Jones, Adam Tanriyar and Ellanna Pezone, who are all aged 16 and from the Doncaster area.

Ellanna said: “The promotional material carries the contact numbers of local health services that young people use.”

In Doncaster, cases of gonorrhoea have risen by more than 50 per cent in three years, from 92 in 2003 to 148 in 2006. The number of people treated for Chlamydia has increased from 784 to 864 over the same period.

The number of people treated for other conditions at Doncaster’s specialist sexual health clinic rose from 1,006 in 2003 to 1,218 in 2006, a 20 per cent increase.

Dr Rupert Suckling, Doncaster’s Deputy Director of Public Health, said: “Pack some condoms in your suitcase if you intend to have an intimate relationship while you’re on holiday and follow this good practice when you return home. STI cases are rising in Doncaster simply because many people choose not to use a condom when they have sex.

“Condoms not only prevent unwanted pregnancies but they also safeguard against being infected with diseases like syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea. These diseases can have long term consequences, including loss of fertility.”