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Calls for better sexual health services for youngsters in the Highlands





The new Highland Council is being urged to act
The new Highland Council is being urged to act

A youth leader has urged the fresh intake of Highland councillors to consider better sexual health services for teenagers in the region as an urgent priority after the election.

Voters go to the polls tomorrow (Thursday) to elect a new Highland Council and its 80 members will meet for the first time on May 17 when a ruling administration will take the reins of power for a five-year term.

Stuart Davidson, the Highland youth convener, has called for the next local authority to support the creation of drop-in clinics for young people with concerns about contraception, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Mr Davidson said it was a huge issue for young Highlanders who found it daunting to access traditional sexual health support because they live in close knit communities.

The convener, who is a full member of the council’s education, culture and sport committee, said young people were worried about being "spotted" if they attended medical surgeries, hospitals and pharmacies for advice by people they know, including relatives, despite the confidentially they are guaranteed.

"There is little anonymity for them and they are worried they could bump into either their mum or auntie or dad at reception," said Mr Davidson.

"They get the sexual advice from schools but when they want to get the nitty gritty information, they don’t feel comfortable going to their local hospital, the GP or pharmacies. These issues are affecting people not only on a day-to-day basis but on an hour-to-hour basis."

A free sexual health drop-in service has already been established in Inverness. It offers chlamydia testing, abortion advice and emergency contraception and is run by the Brook Advisory Centre for people aged under 25.

Highland Youth Forum members in Nairn are trying to set up a similar facility in the town and have applied for funding.

It would be held on the same night as youth club to avoid any potential stigma of young people attending separately, said Mr Davidson, who added they wanted services which were informal and independent of the NHS.

Meanwhile, the issue of unemployment among young people will be debated at the Highland Youth Voice conference in June on Skye.

A mini-jobs fair will be hosted at the region’s youth parliament, which has 100 elected members, while representatives from Global Energy Group will be in attendance.

The company has established a skills apprenticeships academy at the former oil rig fabrication yard at Nigg in Easter Ross which could see thousands of jobs created as a service hub for the renewable industry is set up.

The convener said he hoped councillors would also look into subsidising transport for young people living in rural Highland communities, possibly from ward discretionary budgets, in the next term because irregular services were a common complaint.


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