Action taken over sexual health

Ways to deal with the rise in sexually transmitted infections in Cumbria are due to be discussed at a conference.

There are now more than three times as many cases of chlamydia in North Cumbria than three years ago.

And last week, North Cumbria Primary Care Trust revealed on average one new person a month contracts the HIV virus.

Monday's conference in Penrith aims to improve sexual health and HIV services and to reduce the number of cases of sexually transmitted infections.

The conference organiser Sally Cawley, who is the HIV and sexual health expert for North Cumbria, said: "We are doing a lot through schools but there is still obviously, and particularly I think amongst young men, an awful lot more that we need to do."

'Healthier attitude'

She said among the things they have done is to fund a young men's health worker post working around these issues

She said the issues included ignorance about facts and risks as well as having the skills to negotiate safer sex.

Ms Cawley said: "Today is not just about people having a day out from work or sitting about and talking

"The title of the conference is 'Meeting the challenge' and delegates will be going away all committed to doing something different and extra to be part of this fight against sexually transmitted infections and to promote a healthier attitude towards sex and sexuality and support for people with HIV."

The chair of the government advisory group on sexual health Baroness Gould will be speaking at the conference and there will be two representative from the Department for Health.