Cork Independent: Sexual health in the spotlight
Requests for information about sexual health are increasing every year and stigma still persists in society, it’s been revealed.
The news came as eight sexual health organisation yesterday to launch a new website, mysexualhealth.ie, dedicated to providing information and direction in matters of sexual health, healthy relationships and wellbeing in Cork city.
The portal aims to ensure that the people of Cork have easy and direct access to the sexual health services by providing an overview of the existing organisations, their focus and contact information.
The participating organisations include the Sexual Health Centre, STI clinic, Youth Health Services, Gay Project, LINC, Sexual Violence Centre Cork, Sexual Assault Treatment Unit and Cork HIV Treatment Clinic.
Dr Martin Davoren, Executive Director of the Sexual Health Centre said that a service like this was needed in Cork city.
He said: “We get loads of calls every year and many of those calls would be better placed with LINC or the Sexual Violence Centre Cork for example. Our requests for information are increasing year-on-year and it’s not only to do with STIs.
“People may also have questions about their sexuality or about sexual contact they’ve had. We need to think about contraception too which many people have questions about. Dr Google can be lethal with differing information out there, so people are ringing us for information. Whatever the issue, we can now refer them to the new website.”
Thanks to the one-stop-shop nature of the portal, visitors to the website will be able to easily differentiate between the organisations and locate the one that suits their needs best.
Due to the increased importance of the digital accessibility of services, the online portal will ensure that all groups of population can easily get in touch with the organisation of their choice in the format they feel most comfortable.
From dedicated counselling to exhaustive information and from screening and testing, the mysexualhealth.ie organisations ensure that people of Cork have access to and support in all matters of sexual health.
Daniel Quealey, clinical nurse manager in genito-urinary medicine at the STI/GUM clinic at Cork’s South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, said: “This initiative will definitely create greater awareness and understanding of the full range of sexual health services and supports available to the people of Cork.
“Each organisation will bring their own unique level of expertise to the forum and we will all strive to create a reliable, evidence-based resource for those seeking information on any sexual health related concerns.”
