07/03/05 - Conservatives To Raise Public Awareness Of STD's

Conservative leader Michael Howard is to unveil plans for a major public awareness campaign warning young people of the dangers of sexually transmitted infections.

He will also promise a comprehensive £40m screening programme for chlamydia - the country's most common STI.

Conservative officials say their campaign will be geared to "empowering young people to choose not to engage in the behaviour which leads to risks and harm".

Mr Howard will cite the success of the Conservative government's Aids campaign in the 1980s as an example of what can be achieved.

At the same time he will accuse Labour of having "de-prioritised" HIV and sexual health since it came into power in 1997.

As a result, he will say, new HIV diagnoses have more than doubled, as have the rates of gonorrhoea and chlamydia.

He will promise that a Conservative government will ensure resources reach the front line so that those seeking sexual health services get access to the help they need, when they need it.

Councillor Justin Tomlinson, North Swindon Conservative Candidate, "I welcome this announcement as these are serious issues that can not, and should not be ignored.  Raising public awareness of the potential dangers has to be a priority."

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