REDBRIDGE: One in ten youngsters now have chlamydia (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

REDBRIDGE: One in ten youngsters now have chlamydia

3:44pm Wednesday 30th December 2009 in

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HEALTH workers have hit the streets of Redbridge to warn youngsters against having unprotected sex - after new figures revealed one in ten now have chlamydia.

The move is part of the national Don’t Get Cuffed scheme - aimed at cutting the number of sexually transmitted infections amongst young adults.

The programme is also aimed at giving youngsters the chance to talk about contraception and teenage pregnancy.

Health bosses in Redbridge are particularly concerned about the spread of chlamydia - which is passed on through unprotected sex, and can cause infertility.

Information about sexual health will be sent out to all 16 to 24-year-olds in the borough in February.

Five ‘Free Talk’ clinics are planned to be held in schools across the borough next year, which will offer mental, emotional, physical and sexual health and wellbeing advice.

A spokesman for NHS Redbridge - which is running the scheme - said: "They are safe clinics where young people can come and talk to a healthcare professional in confidence about a whole range of issues."