High STD rates revealed for Gisborne region

A Gisborne District Councillor plans to take action to help the region lose the title as the STD capital of New Zealand.

The district rate of infection for chlamydia is 367 per 100,000 people and that of gonorrhoea is almost three times that of its nearest rival, Hawke's Bay.

Council member Manu Caddie wants to talk to the local District Health Board about the issue.

"Because I understood they had a sexual health strategy and it's been in place for a number of years and I'm just concerned it doesn't seem to be working."

Mr Caddie would like to see youth workers, educators and young people get together to help review the strategy.

He says while he's encouraged the latest figures have actually declined slightly, previous figures have been showing an increase.

"I'm suggesting that we get together with youth workers and educators and young people particularly and review that strategy because it doesn't seem to have been as effective as we might have hoped."

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