USI SHAG campaign

national | miscellaneous | press release Monday February 14, 2005 18:32 by USI watch

Sexual health awareness & guidance week kicks off in colleges

SHAG Packs distributed all this week to USI member colleges

SEX PACKS DISTRIBUTED TO
COLLEGES NATIONWIDE

14th February 2005

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) today launched its Sexual Health Awareness & Guidance campaign (SHAG). This week will see the distribution of 25,000 sexual health packs to colleges across the country. The packs include a condom, lubricant and literature from USI's partner's in the campaign, the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and Durex.

USI Welfare Officer, Layne Aston said: "It is twenty years since contraception became available in Ireland and while great strides have been made since then in raising awareness of sexual health it is clear that there is much work still to be done. Recent studies have shown that Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) continue to rise, which clearly indicates that the principles of safe sex are not getting through to the people who need the information most.

"It is also apparent that the age of sexual activity is becoming lower and many of those arriving at college are doing so with little or no prior guidance in relation to sexual health. College life also offers an increased level of sexual freedom with many students away from the parental home. We aim to encourage students to take a responsible attitude to sexual health and to be comfortable talking about it. It is vital that such issues are not viewed as embarrassing and that anyone who suspects they may have contracted an STI contact the relevant medical services in order for them to be tested.

"The distribution of the packs will be taking place throughout the week with Welfare Officers in local students unions on hand to provide additional advice and support. USI along with its member unions will be looking to provide as much information for students so they can make informed judgements on their sexual health and in doing so dispel many of the myths that surround the issue.

"The campaign has been an collaborative effort between ourselves, the CPA and Durex. As a result this has the full strength and experience of the leaders in this field, a position USI can be proud of."

For further information/comment, please contact:
USI Welfare Officer, Layne Aston 086 8195492