The head of the GU Clinic believes there is a need for a thorough study of what is taught in schools.The head of the GU Clinic believes there is a need for a thorough study of what is taught in schools.

Authorities have an obligation to ensure adolescents are armed to their teeth with information on sexual health, but whatever is being done is “clearly not working”, according to GU Clinic head Philip Carabot.

Dr Carabot found youngsters’ ignorance about their bodies and sexual health dumbfounding and highlighted the need for a thorough revision of the sex education delivered in schools.

“It makes me weep when young people turn up ignorant of the good and bad stuff on sexual health. Some don’t even know their date of birth and have to look at their ID card or ask their mother [let alone have any knowledge on sexual health]...”

Since the clinic moved to Mater Dei from Boffa Hospital last June there has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of patients it sees – more than 200 a month – but the high rate of casual sex and very low rate of condom use has remained unchanged.

“This is a very depressing phenomenon year after year,” he said.

The new clinic has helped tremendously in encouraging people to come forward as it is much more accessible, has better facilities, and more importantly, provides privacy for patients.

The clinic, located on the second floor of the hospital’s outpatients, “is a far cry from the old one”, with a dedicated waiting area, reception, two examination rooms and a proper laboratory.

However, while Dr Carabot welcomed the trappings that came with the move, this was “a detail”; the real focus had to be on the foundations of sexual health in schools.

“We need a thorough study, involving all stakeholders, of what is taught in schools. Once we have the real picture we can decide what to change,” he said. The statistics of sexually transmitted infections from a one-doctor clinic could not be extrapolated to determine national trends, Dr Carabot stressed, which made the need for a nationwide survey all the more important.

Asked if there been a change in direction on sexual health following a change in government, Dr Carabott said: “Not yet, but I sincerely hope there will be.

“By this I mean fresh energy and enthusiasm to tackle the problems we have long recognised but have yet failed to tackle.”

When contacted, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said parents were facing increased questions about sex from their children, so access to sexual education was important.

200

The number of patients who visit the GU Clinic every month

However, the Government first had to carry out a stocktake of the situation before embarking on new initiatives, Mr Bartolo said.

When contacted, Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia said Malta's present public health service does not adequately address sexual health. “A more holistic approach is called for. The ministry will soon embark on projects where this will be given due attention.”

Apart from revising the sex education delivered in schools, Dr Carabott spoke of having more proactive and imaginative sexual health campaigns.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.