Sex disease checks in secondaries

Pupils have been voluntarily checked for chlamydia

Senior pupils at four secondary schools in Dumfries and Galloway have taken part in a new programme of health screening aimed at detecting chlamydia.

The scheme is voluntary but about 90% of S4 to S6 students took part in tests for the sexually transmitted disease.

Screening sessions uncovered infection rates ranging between 0% and 12%.

Director of sexual health Dr Maggie Gurney said there had been no "negative feedback" about the project which also raises awareness about diabetes.

The work being carried out in the region was highlighted in a new report on Scotland's sexual health.

We didn't get negative feedback from the teachers or the parents and other schools have since invited us to do it Dr Maggie Gurney Send us your views NHS Direct - Chlamydia

Dr Gurney said the screening had been encouraged by students themselves.

"The first school we went into, because it had never been done before, there was obviously some reticence about it," she said.

"But we went through the school management team, we went to the school board and then we met with the pupils.

"It was really just the pupils' keenness that took it forward."

She said that once the first school had taken part, others expressed an interest.

"We didn't get negative feedback from the teachers or the parents and other schools have since invited us to do it," Dr Gurney said.

'Very aware'

She added that most of the pupils had been well-informed about the risk of contracting the disease.

"Nowadays, because of our sex education programmes and young people's sexual health work, young people are very much aware of chlamydia," she said.

"They will be as surprised as anybody else when they find out that they have got it

"But they just accept it, get their treatment and we arrange for partners to be treated as well."