GHN and HSE Launch the 4th Phase of the National HIV Prevention Programme for MSM: Man2Man.ie
GHN and HSE Launch the 4th Phase of the National HIV Prevention Programme for MSM: Man2Man.ie
The fourth and final phase of the year-long Man2Man.ie was launched today Thursday 4th October. The key message for this phase of the programme - ‘Always use Condoms and Lube when having sex’ – promotes consistent condom use as the most effective way to prevent transmission of HIV and other STIs.
This 4th Phase includes a video, posters, postcards and business cards, all of which can be viewed on www.man2man.ie, YouTube at Man2ManIreland, and Man2Man.ie on Facebook.
Mr Nazih Eldin, Health Promotion Manager HSE said “this 4th phase emphasises how the consistent and correct use of condoms helps to stop or reduce the spread of HIV. Therefore the joint partnership and funding by The George, Alternative Miss Ireland (AMI), GMHS HSE and the Gay Health Network (GHN) in supplying 100,000 free safer sex packs for distribution to MSM is to be very welcomed”. The new Man2Man safer sex pack will also be launched on Sunday night, 14th October at the George as part of Shirley Temple Bar’s weekly Bingo show.
Susan Donlon for GHN said “we are very happy to promote this campaign to encourage MSM to access and carry condoms and lube. We are delighted that The George and AMI have joined together to help with this promotion at community level. GHN are actively working on providing facilities on the Man2Man.ie website to make condoms and lube available for low cost, through the post and at certain points around the country. Also the issue of access to condoms for MSM will be raised by GHN at national policy level as part of the development of the National Sexual Health Strategy.”
Mick Quinlan, Manager of the Gay Men’s Health Service HSE “said that the forthcoming Man2Man: Report 3 the All-Ireland findings from the 2010 European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS) highlights inconsistent condom use and behaviours associated with condom failure among MSM. This and other studies show that access to condoms and lubricant along with consistent condom use and information contributes to confidence and safer sex”.
In launching the 10th Annual Gay Health Forum last June, Mr Patrick Lynch, Assistant National Director for the HSE Integrated Services Directorate said, “can I also make a plug for the excellent website Man2Man.ie which is part of the joint programme initiative between the HSE and the Gay Health Network. I would also on behalf of the HSE like to give a special thanks to the peer involvement from Belong To members and the production crew, designer and especially the models from the MSM community”.
Man2man.ie a joint GHN and HSE initiative commenced on World AIDS Day 2011 and is a year-long HIV Prevention and Sexual Health Awareness Programme targeting men who have sex with men (MSM), with particular emphasis on those residing outside urban centres and younger MSM. The programme comprises four phases, each one promoted for a three-month period. Details on Man2Man.ie.
