Fairytale prop adds fun to STI screening service
NEW fairytale mascot will add a touch of fun to a new confidential testing service for STIs.
The Cairns Sexual Health Service clinic, located at Cairns North, has started its Speedy Screen service, providing free and confidential testing for STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are caused by bacterial infections and can lead to serious health problems, particularly in women, like ectopic pregnancies and infertility.
The diseases are among Queensland’s most commonly diagnosed STIs.
There were 1986 chlamydia notifications in the Cairns and
Hinterland health district last year, only three per cent less than the five-year average; and there were 492 gonorrhoea notifications in the district last year, a 13 per cent increase on the five-year average.
Cairns Sexual Health Service nurse Laura Coldwell said the quick and easy service at the clinic ensured clients could maintain social distancing while dropping off specimen samples.
“While social restrictions are still in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cairns Sexual Health Service is still open for business,” she said.
“Speedy Screens are available for clients with no symptoms, and it’s a simple ‘grab and go’ service.”
She said the Speedy Screen was for clients who do not have any symptoms and who were not contacts of someone who had chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
“For those that meet these criteria, all they need to do is come to the clinic entrance where they will grab a pack, fill out their name and number, provide a sample and then pop it in the mouth of the Gingerbread person,” she said.
The gingerbread person – nicknamed “Ginger” – is a repurposed prop left over from the Cairns Sexual Health Service’s 2018 Sex Essentials Education Day, which had a fairytale theme.
Ms Coldwell said using Ginger as the face of the Speedy Screen service added a fun touch.
“We know that STI testing can be a nerve-racking experience for many people,” she said.