22 April 2005

Time To Take Chlamydia Seriously

New Zealand First health spokesperson Barbara Stewart is concerned that warnings about the risks of contacting chlamydia are falling on deaf ears.

The New Zealand Family Planning Association has issued an appeal for a national screening scheme after recent data showed rates of chlamydia to be steadily increasing.

“It is worrying that the threat of chlamydia is being treated with such complacency from the Government and the general public given that this silent infection can potentially rob a woman’s ability to have children,” said Mrs Stewart.

“It is true that you can lead a horse to water but you can’t force them to drink, but if a screening scheme was introduced, it would send out a loud and clear message that this is a serious public health issue.

“The repercussions of ignoring this latent infection are too devastating for the sake of one single and simple treatment,” said Mrs Stewart.

ENDS

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