A South East-based group is lobbying to have sexual health given greater recognition and major deficiencies in services addressed. PASH (Promoting Awareness of Sexual Health) says the concept of sexual health needs to be broadened so that it is placed on a par with physical and mental health.
The group's chairperson, Dr Martine Millett-Johnston, says failure to recognise sexual health is causing a range of problems for society, from unwanted teenage pregnancies to absenteeism from work. "Very often people with sexual difficulties have problems at work, suffer confidence problems and encounter relationship difficulties. Depression and suicide can also be consequences."
PASH was formed following the 1999 report of a South Eastern Health Board subcommittee, chaired by Dr Millett-Johnston. It identified serious gaps in sexual health services in the south-east, but the deficiencies would not be confined to that region.
The subcommittee on sexual health was established by the women's health advisory committee, set up by the board three years ago to consult women in the area on health issues.
In its report, the subcommittee found that there was a lack of knowledge, understanding and public awareness around sexual health issues. It found that these needs groups including Travellers, non-nationals, disabled people, the elderly, those with chronic illness, prostitutes and sexual minorities were being ignored.
It called for the "huge lack" of counsellors and sex therapists to be addressed with State-funded training programmes and proposed that new education modules be developed.
Dr Millett-Johnston, a gynaecologist and psychosexual therapist who runs the Kilkenny Clinic, says nothing has been done since the report was published to improve the service in sexual health, although funding is to be provided for GPs for training in psychosexual therapy.
"For example, there is absolutely nothing available in the line of sexual health to the disabled. You have people in wheelchairs in rehabilitation units who think they are no longer able to have `proper sex', and nobody is showing them through behavioural therapy or the use of sexual aids how they can have quite a fulfilling sex life.
"The Travelling community have no sexual health education and the sexual minority groups such as lesbians, homosexuals and transvestites have no access to sexual health care. "We tend to look at it as a biological, innate function rather than something that is very dynamic and interpersonal." PASH, a 12-member voluntary group includes representatives of the medical and legal professions, sexual minority groups, disabled people, Travellers and the Church of Ireland. They come from counties Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford and South Tipperary.
"Our aim is to promote awareness of sexual health through public lectures, meetings, workshops and the promotion of debate," says Dr Millett-Johnston. A computer database on what is available in Ireland in the area of sexual health has also been created.
"We are not a self-help group. We will lobby for people who haven't got a service in their area by writing to the Minister and the health authorities."
The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, has indicated that funding will be available to promote sexual health. PASH fears, however, that the money will not be wisely used unless a greater understanding of sexual health issues is developed.
The group has had two lectures in Kilkenny to date and plans to hold five in the autumn.
The first, by Dr Malcolm Carruthers of the Andropause Society in Britain, will be on the testosterone revolution. It takes place on September 19th at Butler House. PASH can be contacted care of Butler House, Patrick Street, Kilkenny, or at 056-64460.
