Funding set to improve sexual health and combat STIs

Published Monday, 27 February, 2017 at 10:36 AM

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services
The Honourable Cameron Dick

Sexual health services will receive a $5.27 million injection over four years to promote good sexual health and fight sexually transmissible infections across the state.

Health and Ambulance Services Minister Cameron Dick said it was important to set aside the traditional taboo that came with discussing sexual health and do what was best for Queenslanders.

“Good sexual health is an important facet of the overall health and wellbeing of every person across this State,” he said.

“There are challenges in this area of health, including rising rates of some sexually transmissible infections, issues relating to reproductive health, increasing numbers of people living with HIV, and the discrimination and stigmatisation that is often associated with sexual health-related matters.

“This is why this Palaszczuk Government funding and initiatives as part of the Queensland Sexual Health Strategy 2016–2021 are so important.”

Mr Dick said $1.5 million would go towards statewide programs for sexual health education, clinician training and consumer information resource development.

“On top of that, more than $3.7 million will be split across a number of priority regions and services, adding much needed skills and resources,” he said.

The $3.7 million includes:

  • $348,125 over four years to Metro South Hospital and Health Service to increase psychologist capacity at the Princess Alexandra Sexual Health Service. This will assist in providing additional psychological services to HIV positive people, enhancing engagement in care and adherence to treatment.
  • Gold Coast, Townsville and Wide Bay hospital and health services will each receive $481,569 over four years to increase capacity in their Sexual Health Services enhancing their ability to test for and treat STIs, HIV, viral hepatitis, and to provide psychological support to patients.
  • $201,890 over three years to Metro North Hospital and Health Service to enhance the syphilis surveillance program and to provide support to primary healthcare providers in responding to syphilis cases and informing policy and programs.
  • $1,117,183 to Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CHQHHS) over four years to enhance gender dysphoria services and endocrine (hormone) treatment to reduce waiting lists.
  • CHQHHS will receive an additional $100,000 in 2017/18 to develop an online orientation and training program focused on the sexual health needs of children and young people. It will enable School Based Youth Health Nurses (SBYHNs) and other health professionals to better deliver school-based relationships and sexuality education programs.

The Sexual Health Strategy is underpinned by a $62 million suite of actions targeting sexually transmissible infections, HIV and viral hepatitis, and the North Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sexually Transmissible Infections Action Plan.

“Substantially increased funding for sexual health services for the public system and non-government organisations is only one way our Government is increasing Queenslanders’ sexual health,” Mr Dick said.

“We are also leading the nation with the implementation of Australia’s first Sexual Health Strategy and the establishment of a new Sexual Health Ministerial Advisory Committee.”

ENDS

 

Media contact:

Emma McBryde        0400 622 433