8:10pm Monday 17th December 2007
HAMPSHIRE Primary Care Trust's (PCT) Chlamydia Screening Programme is sponsoring a girl's rugby team at Peter Symonds' College in Winchester.
Information about the screening programme is printed on the front of the girls' rugby shirts.
Initially, the rugby team will be publicising the health message to teams during county matches, but if they have a successful season, they will be advertising to people throughout the south.
Chlamydia has become the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection (STI) in young people. Sexually active young people under the age of 25 have a one in 10 chance of contracting the infection and men who are aged between 20 and 30 are most at risk of becoming infected.
As chlamydia sometimes has no symptoms in both men and women, often it can go undiagnosed, which can lead to complications later.
Madeline Torrie from the Chlamydia Screening Programme explained: "Although it is a common STI, it is simple to test for and it can be easily treated with a seven-day course of antibiotics. We have been screening at the college for the past three years now and have always had an excellent response from the students and the staff. We have wanted to try this form of advertising for some time and our established relationship with the college has made this possible."
Mark Rugman, the Peter Symonds College's Women's Rugby and Hampshire coach, supports the campaign.
Mr Rugman said: "We are so pleased with the agreement we have set up with the screening programme. Supporting the good work of the Hampshire Primary Care Trust's Chlamydia Screening Programme, by providing another advertising medium for their important message, is not only beneficial to the girls, but for the college.
"To have a new kit, gives the team a real sense of identity, a professional image, and has a major impact on psychology boosting esteem. So we are grateful for the support we have been given. I hope that we can help in promoting the importance of being screened not only for students at college, but around the surrounding region."
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