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The Perfect Valentine’s Gift
Health experts are urging sexually active young people to give their
partners the ultimate Valentine’s Day present: a clean bill of sexual
health.
Brook, Teenage Pregnancy and the Primary Care Trust (PCT) are putting
together a special stall on Wigan Market to spread the message on the
most romantic day of the year.
Staff on the Valentine’s Day stall will be handing out leaflets, giving
out sexual health information and signing up young people for the
C-Card, the Wigan Borough scheme that provides young people with access
to free condoms and sexual health advice.
The sexual health experts will also be screening young people for
Chlamydia. A huge campaign is currently underway to reduce the number of
young people infected by the STI, with the health authorities aiming to
test half of the 37,000 16 to 25 year-olds in Wigan Borough by next
year.
“Chlamydia testing is a simple, painless process that costs absolutely
nothing,” said Brook Outreach Worker Anne Marie Yates.
“People carrying the infection often show no symptoms but it is
estimated that around one in ten young people carry it and it can lead
to infertility. That’s why we’re trying to test as many young people as
possible."
“Wigan Borough school pupils and college students will be on a half-term
holiday on February 14th, so Valentine’s Day is the perfect date for
youngsters to get checked out. We’re urging all young people who are
unsure about the state of their sexual health to drop by our market
stall or, if you can’t make it, to book an appointment at a Brook or GUM
clinic.”
The Brook / TP / PCT Valentine’s Day stall will be set up at Wigan
Market between 11am and 3pm. Staff on the TIC TAC Bus will also be
driving home the safe sex message on Valentine’s Day outside Leigh
Library between 12noon and 4pm. The bus will also be in Wigan town
centre between 11am and 3pm on Tuesday February 12th.
All teenagers are welcome to drop in to the bus to get information and
advice on a range of topics including sexual health, general health,
drugs & alcohol, friends, family, work and school. Young people can also
sign up for the C-Card scheme onboard the bus.
To make an appointment at Brook in Wigan or Leigh please telephone
(01942) 760000. For further information about Brook visit:
www.brook.org.uk
-ends-
Notes to Editors
Photo opportunities
• Press photographers are invited to take pictures on Wednesday February
14th at both the Brook/TP/PCT Wigan Market Valentine’s Day stall between
12noon and 2.30pm, and on the TIC-TAC Bus outside Leigh Library between
12.30pm and 3.30pm.
Further information
• For further information or queries regarding this press release please
telephone Kennedy Stewart on (01942) 486927.
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