Madam, - I am writing in relation to results announced on December 16th on the number of cases of meningitis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). I applaud the Government, doctors, GPs and other health bodies who promoted the vaccine of meningitis C, which has produced a dramatic decrease in reported cases. However on the issue of STIs, the reported cases show a bleak result.
The figures were taken from the 2000-2001 period, which show a 10 per cent rise in STIs like syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia among Irish young people. Unfortunately there are no figures available for the 2002-2003 period yet, but it is predicted to be a rise in cases yet again.
Although the primary purpose of sexual intercourse is to reproduce a species, in the case of humans today it is seen as something else. Getting pregnant is seen as a "risk" of having sex and among many people in many generations contraception like the Pill, the morning-after pill etc., is used to prevent this "risk".
Yet no one really takes into account the real risk of unprotected sexual intercourse: becoming infected with an STI.
In 2003, we have yet to come up with a 100 per cent risk-proof protection method, other than abstinence from sex, against the transmission of STIs.
We have, however, a more than 99 per cent protection method - the condom. It is one of the only methods of protecting against both risks of sexual activity: pregnancy and transmission of STIs.
We teach our children about how to have sex, but many parents forget to teach how to have sex safely.
HIV/AIDS is a disease we do not know how to cure. The only way of ensuring we do not let ourselves or our children become infected and subsequently die from a HIV/AIDS-related disease is to make sure we do not contract the disease.
Nothing will keep human beings from practising survival of the species, but please let's all do so safely. I call on the Government and parents to change their outlook on promoting safe sex to teenagers under the legal age of consent.
Without this vital information, your children could face an agonising life under the strain of an STD. - Yours, etc.,
HOLLY FAWCETT, Ryevale Lawns, Leixlip, Co Kildare.
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Madam, - Your columnist Louise Holden, on the Education Today page of your edition of December 9th, attributes to Rita O'Reilly of support group Parentline the view "they have to bear in mind that at 16 their children are legally entitled to have sex". The legal minimum age is 17. - Yours, etc.,
TERRY GRIFFIN, Aughrim Street, Dublin 7.