Health bosses offer shopping voucher in return for chlamydia test

The chlamydia virus

JON WELCH
03 November 2009 13:20



Young adults who take a “quick and easy” chlamydia test will be given a £5 shopping voucher.

Health bosses at NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney and NHS Norfolk's are keen to increase the number people screened as part of their Are You Getting It? campaign.

The vouchers will be given to 15 to 24-year-olds who take one of the tests.

Allison Chaplin, commissioning manager for substance misuse and sexual health, said: “We have launched the website www.areyougettingit.com and anyone who would like a test - and the £5 voucher - can order one through the site.

“It is believed one in 12 people have chlamydia and the test is really quick and easy to do.”

All participants have to do is post off a urine sample.

Within the Norfolk and Waveney area there are 116,000 15 to 24-year-olds and the first 1,000 who take the test will be given the voucher.

Chlamydia is often undetected because of a lack of symptoms associated with the infection. It can lead to a condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease which can cause infertility in women.

NHS Norfolk's sexual health commissioning manager Julie Hughes, added: “We are also encouraging people to take a Chlamydia test every year or when changing sexual partners, just to be on the safe side.

“The kit and the test are free, it's really simple to do and apart from the chance to win a voucher you are giving yourself peace of mind.”

The test kits can also be ordered by texting "screen" to 80010 or by phoning 01603 221830. Callers to the phone line will also be able to find out how to pick up a pack in person, if they wish to.

However, only those using www.areyougettingit.com are eligible to receive a shopping voucher.

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