TEST YOURSELF: Dressed in blue hoodies with motifs encouraging the use of condoms, cheerful health nurses from the Youth Health Center turned up at the Norwegian Business School to test students for venereal diseases.
Photo: Bergen municipality
On Thursday 18 April, the students at the Norwegian Business School received an unusual request at school: Test yourself for gonorrhea and chlamydia!
It was the Health Center for Youth and Students and the Medicines’ Sexual Information Service that were at NHH to get the students tested for venereal diseases. 146 students chose to test themselves on this day.
NO CONTROL OF THE INFECTION: Infection control supervisor Marit Voltersvik reports a steady increase in the incidence of gonorrhea in Bergen.
Photo: Kristin Bergitte Hauge
More and more people are becoming infected
According to infection control specialist Marit Voltersvik, the infection rate for gonorrhea is still rising in Bergen.
– Although Oslo is the worst on a national basis, we are not much better in Bergen. We have no control over the infection situation, says Voltersvik.
It is particularly the age group 20–24 that has an increase in infection, and women are still most at risk.
– We are seeing an increase where a positive result for gonorrhea is obtained in a sample taken from the throat. That is why it is important that we talk to those who are going to be tested, so that the test is taken where the infection can actually be found, says Voltersvik.
More measures
The youth health center has organized several test days, both for students and for pupils at upper secondary schools. In addition, they have organized “Piss and Pizza” together with Utekontakten. The experience is that knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases and how they are transmitted is deficient among many young people, even though they may have an extensive sex life.
– Using a condom is the only thing that protects against infection. If you have had sex without a condom, and think you may be infected, it is important that you get tested, so that you can receive treatment, and that you do not spread the infection further, says public health nurse Agnes Giertsen, who was one of those who was present on the test day at NHH.
Young people test themselves for free
– If you are between the ages of 13 and 25, you can come to the Youth Health Center and get tested for free. As healthcare nurses, we have seen and heard most things, and are ready to receive you in a safe and good way, says Giertsen.
See the citizens’ help for more information about gonorrhea and where you can get tested.
Published: 24/04/2024
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Updated: 24/04/2024
Text:
Birgit Kårbø
Tags: Bergen municipality high infection rates gonorrhea Bergen
