STD control is a ‘failure’

A £150m campaign to tackle a terrifying sexually transmitted disease (STD) was condemned as an “inefficient failure” yesterday.

A committee of MPs attacked many years of wasted money and missed opportunities in the implementation of the national screening programme to test for chlamydia, in GP surgeries and community clinics.

Youngsters risk infertility unless they are treated for the disease, which is the most common curable sexually transmitted infection.

=Yet, five years after the programme was first set up in 2003, only 4.9 per cent of under-24s were being screened — far below the 26 per cent minimum level required to ensure the infection is controlled.

Around 6,500 who tested positive last year did not receive treatment. And almost three-quarters of trusts failed to trace and treat the sexual partners of chlamydia victims.

Oldham has been repeatedly praised in the Commons for its work in tackling sexual health problems.

Health minister Dawn Primarolo said the innovative RU Clear? campaign for the chlamydia screening programme, which encourages under-25s to be tested for the STD, is an example of best practice.

Alan Higgins, director of public health for Oldham, said: “Although NHS Oldham did not reach the national screening rate target of 17 per cent in 2008/09, there was an increase in screening by 43.7 per cent on the previous year.

“We have recognised the shortfalls in our efforts to increase screening for Chlamydia.

“This has resulted in improvements, with Oldham being better than the national average in the first part of 2009/10.

“We are in the middle across Greater Manchester primary care trusts for chlamydia screening uptake.”

A national campaign will get under way in the New Year encouraging people to be screened.