National Condom Day, which falls on Valentine’s Day each year, provides a timely reminder about the importance of using protection when engaging in sexual activity and getting regular sexual health check-ups.
Chief Health Officer for the Northern Territory Department of Health, Dr Hugh Heggie, is encouraging sexually active people to have regular sexual health check-ups.
In 2016, 23 Territorians were notified as having HIV, these individuals came from a broad cross section of our community.
“People often underestimate their risk of acquiring HIV and other sexually transmissible infections (STIs),” Dr Heggie said.
Factors that contribute to the transmission of HIV in the Northern Territory include a young and highly mobile population and geographic closeness to Asia.
“It is also a matter of concern that people who may not know they have HIV could unknowingly be passing the infection to others,” Dr Heggie said.
“Residents of the Northern Territory travel frequently to our neighbouring countries in South East Asia, and many of these countries have much higher rates of HIV compared with Australia.”
“To stay safe from HIV and STIs, people must use a condom every time they take risks with unknown partners.”
Facebook and television ads will commence today as part of the next stage in the Department of Health’s campaign to let Territorians know that ‘HIV is still here’ and to ‘use condoms and get tested’.
For a confidential check-up, see your doctor or visit Clinic 34.
More information on Clinic 34 is available at: https://nt.gov.au/wellbeing/hospitals-health-services/sexual-health-services/clinic-34
Media Contact: Dimitra Grehl 0427 596 954