All third-level students in Ireland will soon be able to avail of free condoms.
More sexual health information is to be provided to students as part of the National Condom Distribution Service.
The HSE made the announcement this morning on Twitter. They wrote, “Colleges can now order free condom dispensers from the HSE. This will enable the provision of free condoms and sexual health information to students on campuses nationwide.”
Colleges can now order free condom dispensers from the HSE. This will enable the provision of free condoms and sexual health information to students on campuses nationwide https://t.co/rfV5eRrUmS @_respectprotect pic.twitter.com/7m61YRGqIS
— HSE Ireland (@HSELive) November 5, 2019
Minister for Health Simon Harris explained the importance of such initiatives:
“It is essential we continue to make improvements in sexual education and remove barriers to contraception. This will reduce crisis pregnancies and reduce the rates of sexually transmitted infections.”
Meanwhile, USI Vice President for Welfare RóisÃn O’Donovan said, “Through this initiative, we hope to see an increase in awareness of the importance of using condoms to prevent STI’s and unplanned pregnancies amongst students.”
It was also recently announced that PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is freely available in Ireland. According to the HSE, PrEP is a preventative medication available to “those who are considered to be at substantial risk of contracting HIV through sex.”
PrEP is now available for free to those who are considered to be at substantial risk of contracting HIV through sex. For more information on where and how to access PrEP, visit https://t.co/H81NeVm9A3 #PrEPforIreland pic.twitter.com/VwB48IlpU2
— HSE Sexual Wellbeing (@_respectprotect) November 5, 2019
