With the pandemic forcing people to become more aware and protective of their health, many are neglecting proper sexual health practices.
Lower numbers accessing sexual health resources such as STI testing is partly due to people not feeling comfortable attending a clinic during the pandemic. Before the pandemic, the MLHU used to have three clinics a week that have since been reduced to two for sexual health resources.
Despite the clinics being set up as appointments only, MLHU has been mindful that there are many in the community without access to a phone or are unable to book an appointment. For these cases, the MLHU provides some space for walk-ins to be cared for.
Jess Gould / XFM News
MLHU Sexual Health Manager Shaya Dhinsa highlights that rates of STI infections might be higher now than pre-pandemic, despite calls for social distancing and stay-at-home orders. “My one concern is that the STI rates might be higher than what they actually are. Because I do feel people are still having sexual contact, but they are not comfortable coming in and getting tested, and therefore unknowingly they may not have symptoms. Then they are knowingly spreading that STI.”
Prior to the pandemic, 2019 marks the sixth consecutive year for record-breaking STDs reported by the CDC with 2.6 million cases.
Source: CDC
“That is concerning to me, so I do hope in the future we can add back our third clinic, which will make it another day or time that would work for individuals to access our services. Or, that we can have more ability to have walk-ins. I do know that is a barrier for some individuals. But I do have a concern that post-pandemic, there might be an influx of STIs.” cautions Dhinsa in advocacy of safe sexual health.
Although MLHU has lost a sexual health clinic, Dhinsa calls London lucky as some areas do not have STI clinics available and shares MLHU is open to any individual who chooses to access them.
The sexual health clinic is currently open Monday and Wednesday beginning at 4:30 PM with the last available appointment booking time at 7:00 PM. Clients can call to have their nursing assessment done over the phone and will be able to see the physician upon their appointment time.
