Condoms to be given to 13-year-olds

FREE condoms will be handed out to people aged 13 to 25 under a new card scheme aimed at combating teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections in Plymouth.

The Condom Card – or 'C-Card' – initiative will be introduced at about 100 city sites including schools, youth services, voluntary agencies, GP surgeries and pharmacies.

It will see free contraceptives and advice given confidentially to young people who sign up and receive a card.

The joint NHS Plymouth and city council scheme is based on similar projects already launched in Somerset and Torbay.

Neil Minion, young people's sexual health team project lead for NHS Plymouth, said: "It is important that young people are given good accurate advice by a fully trained confident worker in order to be able to make informed decisions about their health.

"The C-Card registration provides a good opportunity to do this."

Mr Minion said the scheme would improve on existing condom distribution by creating consistency in sexual health services across a wide network.

He added there was a wealth of national evidence to support the provision of free condoms to young people through focused provision being an effective way to improve sexual health.

The news comes after The Herald last week reported the number of people testing positive for Chlamydia in Plymouth almost doubled from 560 in 2000 to 1,065 in 2007 – with people aged 16 to 24 most at risk.

The city has a high teenage pregnancy rate of 46.5 in every thousand girls under 18, compared to 40.9 per thousand nationally.

Any young person, male or female, up to the age of 25 will be able to attend a C-Card registration point and a trained worker will explain the scheme to them.

If they decide to sign up, they will be provided with impartial advice on sex and relationships from trained professionals.

By presenting the card at a participating site, the holder will be able to access free contraception and ongoing support.

Venues will be identified by the scheme's 'C' in a circle logo.

Advice that will be given will include how to use a condom safely and correctly, ways in which a condom can prevent sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy, how to manage pressure to have sex, and the availability of sexual health services and other distribution C-Card points.

For more information about the C-Card scheme call Neil Minion or Sue Tucker at The Young People's Sexual Health Team on 01752 434868.