Government launches sexual health campaign

The government is launching a sexual health campaign in a bid to stop the rise of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK.

The campaign, which will focus on 18 to 24-year-olds, is designed to convince young adults to carry condoms when they go out, as a recent survey by the Department of Health revealed that less than 20 per cent do so at present.

Concerns about the poor sexual health of Britain’s youngsters has prompted the ?4 million campaign, which will include television, radio and magazine advertisements showing that infections are not readily recognisable in real life.

Public health minister Caroline Flint said: “This is not about encouraging promiscuity, but saying to those who are already sexually active, ‘Sex without a condom is seriously risky, so always use one’.”

Ms Flint said that the campaign aimed to make carrying and using a condom “as familiar as carrying a mobile phone, lipstick or putting on a seat-belt”.