Christian Peregin
109 living with HIV and AIDS
Young targeted in new campaign against sexually transmitted diseases
Sexual diseases in Malta continued to spread in recent years with Chlamydia quadrupling since 2004 and rates of Aids and HIV leaping again from last year.
The figures were released yesterday on World Aids Day at the launch of a campaign aimed at preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among young people.
The new campaign strives to be more pictorial in order to target young people directly and does not speak of any particular STD, choosing instead to tackle them all together.
It uses the World Health Organisation guidelines to encourage healthy sexual relationships, by focusing on abstinence, being faithful, using condoms responsibly and not doing drugs.
It also aims to encourage people to use the free services available such as the sexual health helpline and STD testing.
However, the campaign is not part of an official holistic strategy, since the National Sexual Health Policy has been in gestation for more than seven years. According to Health Department officials, it is now in a "very advanced" stage.
According to figures released yesterday, there are currently 109 people living with HIV and Aids in Malta. So far this year there have been five new cases of Aids and 24 cases of HIV, compared to last year's two and 16 respectively.
This year's figures are closer to those in 2006 when there were six new cases of Aids and 23 of HIV, meaning that there is no significant pattern when it comes to the incidence rates.
On the other hand, Malta has been very successful in curbing the spread of HIV and Aids among drug addicts. According to director general Ray Busuttil, this is thanks to those who work closely with such addicts.
Sexual health education in schools is generally done through personal and social development (PSD) lessons. From the age of 10, children are taught about personal hygiene and their physical development, while intimate relationships are discussed by the age of 13.
The use of condoms begins to be discussed at the ages of 14 and 15 but Maltese schools are notoriously inconsistent when it comes to speaking openly about condoms and other forms of protection.
The campaign's posters will be distributed in strategic locations such as nightclubs and bus shelters but the campaign will also be conducted on the radio and through the distribution of booklets.
According to the creators, this campaign was improved from previous editions since it was based on feedback and market research. Although the campaign will officially come to an end after January, they hope it will continue throughout the year with the help of the media.
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Arlette Vassallo
Dec 3rd 2008, 00:25
Reports also show that, while a large proportion of young people engage in casual sex, the use of protective measures (male/female condoms and dental dams) is extremely low.
Condoms should be made more accessible and their use explicitly taught in schools and other places frequented by young people in a youth-friendly manner.
The lack of, or inadequate, sexual education in schools, places of work, girl guides etc is an infringement on the Right to Health and the Right to Education.
In both cases, these Human Rights are being actively denied resulting in short term problems such as STIs, unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions and their long term consequences such as infertility, ectopic pregnancies, pelvic inflammatory disease and AIDS.
With regards to the WHO ABC guidelines - we also have to keep in mind what is known as serial monogamy where "Being Faithful" loses its point. With serial monogamy people think it unnecessary to wear condoms because they are in a stable relationship. However, it is very much like sleeping with all the people that your partner has slept with before you and vice versa.
Lastly I would like to thank Mr. Peregin for this article.
L. Bonnici
Dec 2nd 2008, 21:24
I don't know what's the fuss with the condom machine @ university. I'm in my 4th year of studies and this subject has surfaced many times... why not JUST install it? What's the fuss about it? Every public toilet you go to abroad has a condom machine, even those in university libraries!!!
Claudia Borg
Dec 2nd 2008, 17:03
Why is a campaign on sex education so different in Malta when compared to one on drugs. I remember campaigns against drugs specifically mentioning different types of drugs and their effects on different parts of the body. I still have to see a campaign on STDs at that level. Throwing them under one umbrella will only further encourage our sexually active youngsters to shrug their shoulders and persue their intentions.
As for "condom use" being discussed in class & being part of this campaign...what a JOKE! I really wonder where they get to...I doubt there are any demonstrations on how to use a condom...Its just a guess, but when you consider that the KSU which consists of 18+ SUPPOSEDLY ADULTS who are still having HOT debates on whether to introduce a condom vending machine on campus...come on, with such an attitude towards condoms and their use, we are really not doing enough to transmit the message. I hope we don't wake up when its too late. The campaign should make a statement and distribute actual condoms rather than just cartoons and words. And facts on STDs rather than the ABCD lovely pictures, if we really care!