Sexually transmitted infections are on the rise across the nation and the Grey Bruce area is no exception.
In 2019, the Health Unit had its highest case count, with 436 reported instances of chlamydia, 39 of gonorrhea, and seven of syphilis.
Though numbers dipped during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gillian Jordan, program manager of sexual health at Grey Bruce Public Health, says case counts appeared to be back to pre-pandemic levels during the first half of 2023.
"This year we're keeping quite a close eye on what's happening case count wise," she said. "As of the end of June, we have had around 200 cases of chlamydia, 20 gonorrhea, and 12 syphilis. For gonorrhea and syphilis, those are actually fairly dramatic rises, but again something that's not unique to us, definitely something that's being seen across the province and across Canada actually."
The Health Unit has had restored sexual health services for over a year now, but uptake has not been as quick to return. Much of the Sexual Health Team's work was halted during the pandemic, as members were redeployed to COVID case and contact management.
After returning last July, sexual health clinics had under 200 appointments in their first six months, a far cry from the 1,000 they averaged annually in 2018-19.
In an effort to lower barriers to timely sexual health services, the Health Unit even began taking their clinics on the road.
After listening to patient feedback, they began hosting monthly pop-up clinics in Kincardine, Southampton, and Wiarton on a trial basis this spring.
Jordan says the uptake hasn't quite been there yet.
"We're about six months in and we have seen with those (pop up) clinics, generally it's taken some time for the word to get out there and for them to catch on," she said. "So not totally unexpected that we're not seeing tons of people flow through every month, but more people would be great."
Weekly clinics in Owen Sound and Hanover account for about 85 per cent of their clients in 2023.
All clinics offer testing and treatment for STIs, pregnancy testing and counselling, and safe sex education as well as access to free safe sex supplies. A health card is not required to access services.
The pop-up clinics will continue to run throughout the year on a trial basis, before the Health Unit decides whether to continue them.
Pop-up clinics run in the Kincardine CMHA Building on the first Tuesday of every month, in the Southampton CMHA Building on the third Tuesday, and the Green House in Wiarton on the fourth Thursday.
To see a full schedule of Health Unit clinics, visit here.
