The Public Health Agency of Canada’s annual Sexual Health Week is underway across the country and Grande Prairie’s Northreach Society is putting on a series of events to mark the occasion.
Lindsay Loset, Harm Reduction Team Lead at Northreach says the week is a critical part of promoting sexual health awareness and destigmatizing the various processes that come with sexual wellbeing.
“It’s not a way to think of it like these things are going around and it’s shameful or gross or anything like that, it’s just part of sexual health,” she says. “Normalizing it in the sense that you can get tested, you can get treated, and then continue taking care of your health and being as safe as possible.”
According to the Government of Canada, Alberta reported higher than average Chlaymidia rates than the national average, and Loset says sexual health week serves as an important educational tool for residents.
“The numbers statistically in Alberta aren’t super great when it comes to STIs or sexually transmitted bloodborne infections.”
Throughout the week, Northreach is hosting several events to promote awareness and make sure Grande Prairie residents keep their sexual health at the front of their minds.
“We’re offering our testing and treatment resources, and information and resources like condoms and other safer sex supplies.”
Residents are encouraged to get tested at Northwestern Polytechnic throughout the week, and the Northwestern Polytechnic Student Association has scheduled a trivia night on February 15th, and a bingo night on February 16th to encourage students to address sexual health in a safe and fun environment.
