These are the questions health professionals have been asking students at the beginning of term as NHS Suffolk’s Chlamydia screening team has been visiting college and university fresher’s fairs, with the help of a funky tuk-tuk – as seen on the streets of Bangkok!
The team has been handing out self-testing kits to students coming back from their summer holidays – and those who are starting college for the first time. Students who don’t do a test on the day have instead been encouraged to text KIT to 84010 for a free postal kit. Testing is easy – students can do it themselves in private before handing the sample back to the screening service. After testing, results will be sent personally by text message.
Alternatively, anyone aged 16-25 can pick up a postal testing kit or get one via the Am I Clear website at www.amiclear.com and post it off for testing – or text KIT to 84010 with name, full address, age and sex to get their free kit Chlamydia testing kit.
Dr Amanda Jones, deputy director of public health for NHS Suffolk, said: “We are keen to make it as easy as possible for all of young people to get tested for Chlamydia as current estimates show around one in ten sexually active young people may have the infection and not know they have it – and it is easily treated.”
Photo shows the NHS Suffolk Chlamydia screening team with the tuk-tuk at the UCS fresher’s fair on Tuesday 22 September 2009. Its next and final visit is on Thursday 24 September at West Suffolk College, Bury St Edmunds.
To find out more about Chlamydia and how you can get tested, visit the ‘Am I Clear’ website at www.amiclear.com
Issued by the NHS Suffolk Communications Team on 01473 770014
For more information about NHS Suffolk visit www.suffolk.nhs.uk
