USI to distribute thousands of condoms to students

national | public consultation / irish social forum | press release Thursday May 11, 2006 17:00 by Union of Students in Ireland welfare at usi dot ie Union of Students in Ireland, Grattan St., Dublin 2, Ireland 01 435 3400

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is set to distribute 40,000 condoms to Irish students as part of the ‘He Says, You Say’ sexual health campaign launched earlier this week during National Condom Week sponsored by Durex. The campaign – also endorsed by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and the Dublin Aids Alliance – will see 30,000 sponsored condoms distributed to students at the Trinity Ball tomorrow evening (Friday 12th May).

USI TO DISTRIBUTE THOUSANDS OF CONDOMS TO STUDENTS

11 May 2006

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is set to distribute 40,000 condoms to Irish students as part of the ‘He Says, You Say’ sexual health campaign launched earlier this week during National Condom Week sponsored by Durex. The campaign – also endorsed by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and the Dublin Aids Alliance – will see 30,000 sponsored condoms distributed to students at the Trinity Ball tomorrow evening (Friday 12th May).

In the absence of a National Sexual Health Strategy, as called for by the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA), USI believes the ‘He Says, You Say’ campaign performs a vital function in promoting sexual health to young people.

Yesterday, Fiona O’Malley TD added her voice to those calling for a National Sexual Health Strategy to promote condom use and provide impartial sexual health information.

USI Welfare Officer Tom Lowth said: “USI and students unions across the country are at the front line tackling the rise in STIs among young people in Irish colleges. We are proud of our record distributing thousands upon thousands of condoms to Irish students, and are continuing this as a key plank of the ‘He Says, You Say’ sexual health campaign.

“Fiona O’Malley was right to point out that condoms are an effective way to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, and USI urges all TDs within the governing parties to join O’Malley in demonstrating their support for efforts to raise sexual health awareness among young people – a category at very high risk from STIs.

“USI commends Fiona O’Malley, a member of the Minister for Health’s own party, for bravely supporting the IFPA’s call for a National Health Strategy. As we prepare to distribute thousands of condoms to students across Ireland, USI wants the Government to listen to USI, the IFPA and one of its own backbenchers, and adopt a national co-ordinated approach to raising awareness and promoting sexual health.”

Ends

For further information please contact:

USI Welfare Officer Tom Lowth 086 8374106
Ryan Brennan, Development Manager 01 4353400