June is HIV Awareness Month. This year the Department of Health is focusing on the theme, “Sexual Health: Have the Conversation”. This theme was chosen to encompass all sexual health, including HIV and all other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The aim is to get everyone in the community talking about their sexual health; doctors and patients, parents and children, friends, family members and couples.

The Department of Health will hold a HIV Testing Day on 28th June 2010 and will offer free, confidential HIV screening at your office.

HIV screenings will also be available at the Communicable Disease Control Clinic (CDCC), at the Hamilton Health Centre from 8:30 am onwards.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said that historically, around 60% of all HIV infections in Bermuda have been attributed to sexual contact.

In 2009, this figure jumped to over 90%. Since 2000, over 500 other sexually transmitted infections have been reported to the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit annually.

As it is the same behaviours that bring about these infections and the majority of HIV cases, it is fitting to discuss them together. While discussing sexual health is often considered taboo, sexual health is integral to overall health and well-being, the spokesman added.

The Department of Health advises that when thinking of our sexual health, we should use the following five P’s as a guide (and encourage others to do the same):
 Practices,
 Partners,
 Prevention of Pregnancy,
 Protection from STIs, and
 Past History of STIs

Public Health Nurses at the CDCC are available year-round for sexual health services. Telephone: 278-6442 for more information, questions, concerns, and referrals.