Public Health and Manx Care have launched a campaign urging the public to stay safe and practice safe sex and wrap up this TT.
Last June, visits to the Manx Integrated Sexual Health Centre (MISH) surged by 217% in the weeks following the TT, with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) rising by 80%.
Safe Sex
Speaking to Manx.News, Ross Keat, Deputy Director of Public Health said: “We were looking at some data around sexual health on the island, and we noticed a trend year on year that there was an increase in the number of appointments made with sexual health service and an increase in the number of sexually transmitted infection diagnoses.
“So about a 200% increase in requests for appointments and an 80% increase in infections diagnosed.
Ross Keat, Deputy Director of Public Health
“Seeing this trend year on year, at the start of June, sort of led us to realise that there was an event that occurred towards the end of May which might be responsible for this.
“That gave us opportunity to launch this campaign to try and make people aware to be more cautious when engaging in extracurricular activities during the TT fortnight.”
Confidential
Amanda Dawson, Lead Nurse for Integrated Sexual Health Services explained how confidential the service is and for people to not be embarrassed to get checked out.
She said: “It’s confidential service. Your name doesn’t go on any samples, we give you a PIN number, so it’s confidential.
“Any tests that go to the laboratory when you come in, you book in a reception, and we do like to take some details from you. Again, they’re confidential. We ask you for passwords and all that.
Amanda Dawson, Lead Nurse for Integrated Sexual Health Services
“So we’ll keep all your data safe and we have a password if we’re going to ring you up for anything you need to give us. Give us a password so we know we’re talking to the person who’s been to clinic.”
MISH will be at Bushy’s TT Village offering advice, and free condoms will be available at select venues.
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