AQW 4308/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 07/10/2022
Answered On Date: 18/10/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health why Northern Ireland is the only region in the UK that does not have a sexual health strategy.

Answer:

No decision has been taken to develop a new Sexual Health Strategy. The previous Sexual Health Promotion Strategy lapsed in 2015, following a two year addendum. Since then, a sexual health improvement action plan has set the direction for progress on sexual health awareness and promotion.

The latest draft action plan was in its final stages of agreement at the end of 2019, but due to the pandemic, work on this ceased. Officials are now refreshing this action plan.

The need for a new strategy will be kept under review.