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| The Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Team are encouraging people to enjoy a healthy Valentine’s Day with a new campaign being launched on Thursday 14 February 2013. The campaign ‘Love is...’ aims to raise awareness on the importance of using condoms to help protect people from HIV and Chlamydia. |
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| On 14 February special Valentine’s Day cards, with a condom attached inside, will be given out to people along Oxford Road near Manchester University. Research shows one in ten young people have Chlamydia in the UK. There are often no symptoms in men or women unless it leads to complications – when treatment can sometimes be too late to stop permanent damage. Chlamydia is the most common preventable cause of infertility in women. Treatment for Chlamydia is free and straightforward usually just one dose of antibiotics.
On Saturday 16 February, from 7.30pm, there will be volunteer models dressed as cupid touring the bars around the Gay Village. The models will be talking to people about getting an HIV test, handing out ‘Love is’ cards and a packet of love hearts sweets.
To help drive home the safe sex message there will be a number of activities that people can join in along the way including: having a photograph taken for Social Media websites and writing what love is on a wall.
More than 90,000 people are living with HIV in the UK. According the Health Protection Agency (HPA) over 10,000 gay men have HIV and don’t know it. In 2011 there was a 7% increase in the number of HIV and AIDS cases reported across the North West of England.
The project on 16 February is being held jointly between The Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Team and The Gay and Lesbian Foundation.
For more information about Chlamydia and the screening programme visit the website: www.RUclear.co.uk or call the confidential helpline on 0800 0461303.
For more information on HIV testing visit: www.lgf.org.uk/testing |
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| Manchester PRIDE is one of the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) festival in Europe, as well as being an amazing social and cultural event, it is a fantastic opportunity for the NHS to engage with the LGBT community. The PRIDE event is open to the public to attend.
Pete Smith in Manchester Public Health Development Service has organised for Trust services to support the PRIDE weekend: |
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Saturday 25 August 2012
11.00am – 8.00pm, Gay Village, Expo Area
(Trust staff taking part in PRIDE Parade starting at Liverpool Street, Deansgate – 12.45pm)
Sunday 26 August 2012
11.00am – 8.00pm, Gay Village, Expo Area
Monday 27 August 2012
11.00am – 5.00pm, Gay Village, Expo Area
This year we will again be having our own stall in the Gay Village, lifestyle expo area and the undercover outdoor exhibition which provides health, social and legal advice. Staff will promote the various work offered by the Trust around health and wellbeing.
The theme for this year’s Trust stall is Mind, Body, and Soul to reflect the diversity of services within our organisation. The main focus is harm and reduction along with offering:
- Sexual Health Promotion including distributing condoms in assorted flavours. We encourage people to have fun but be safe
- Information on a new sexual health campaign 'Come Together Safely'
- Free fruit to encourage healthy eating
- Free water to ensure people stay hydrated
- An alcohol survey with home drinking tests. There is evidence to suggest that drug and alcohol misuse can be higher amongst certain sectors of the LGBT community
- Drugs advice information focusing upon stimulants and the current drugs of choice amongst the LGBT community
- Stop smoking advice and support to quit
- Cancer awareness information
- Promoting Public Mental Health awareness and the range of Mental Health Services within the Trust along with information on the joint project between the Trust and Lesbian and Gay Foundation. (LGF)
- A chill out zone for people to talk about all of the above
PRIDE Fringe Project
Gaydio Radio, The Lesbian and Gay Foundation (LGF) and the Trust are taking part in PRIDE Fringe. It involves running a radio campaign which culminates in a 'Question Time' event with an expert panel discussing ‘How do we stop Gay Men becoming HIV positive?’. The Question Time discussion will take place at the LGF and will be broadcast live on Gaydio Radio, Wednesday 22 August from 7.00 – 9.00pm.
For more information contact Pete Smith, Senior Public Health Development Advisor.
| Pride Parade Map |
Updated: 21/08/12 |
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| Pride Press Release |
Updated: 21/08/12 |
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The Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Team have won a prestigious award for an innovative leaflet.
'A.Mann's Guide to Sexually Transmitted Infections' was named Best Publication at the How Do Public Services Communications Awards 2011 on 15 November.
The leaflet aims to reduce sexual infections in men across Manchester and was a joint effort between the Trust and design agency Sunny Thinking. It was initially piloted to inmates of HMP Manchester.
Award: The winning resource
Public Health Development Manager Bridget Hughes, said: “We had eight competitors shortlisted in our category and so were really pleased to win the award.” |
Left to right: Award presenter Andy Green, Rick Plant, Bridget Hughes, and Josanne Cowell from the team and Jonathan Reed and Katie Perkins of Sunny Thinking. |
Congratulations to the Pete Smith, Josanne Cowell and the Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Team who won the Diversity and Inclusion Award at a recent ceremony held by Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust Awards. |
| The Star Awards Ceremony recognises colleagues across the Trust who have gone the extra mile. The Diversity and Inclusion award is given to an individual or a team that has successfully supported the achievement of diversity and inclusion in Manchester through the enhancement and development of services, or through a one-off project. The award was presented to Pete and Josanne for their work with the Over 50s on HIV, prevention and onward transmission. |
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Gary Beeny also in the Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Team was a finalist in the Improving Health category. This category recognises his work with users of steroids and performance and image enhancing drugs.
This work is making a real difference in otherwise healthy young men who are experiencing both physical and mental health problems. They are also a population experiencing high levels of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), when they shouldn’t be at that age.
For more information about the Staff Star Awards ceremony held at the Manchester Town Hall, click here to visit Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust. |
