Women’s centre reveals significant rise in cases of sexually transmitted disease

THERE has been a significant increase in the number of detected cases of the sexually transmitted infection, Chlamydia, in recent months, according to the Well Woman Centre.

The clinic, which carries out private screening programmes, is calling for a national sexual health strategy to deal with a sharp rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Public patients are being forced to wait to be screened for diseases such as HIV, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea.

The centre, which opened a newly refurbished centre in Dublin’s Liffey Street yesterday, is calling for an awareness campaign to reduce the STI rate.

It is also calling for special funding to be made available to educate young people in schools and colleges about their sexual health.

“Recent national figures on STI detection indicate increased prevalence rates across the board. Well Woman has also identified significant increases in our own testing,” chief executive Alison Begas said.

Ms Begas said the Government must take action to curb this trend.

The clinic offers early morning and evening appointments as well as a Sunday morning walk-in service.