Nationaal Actieplan soa, hiv en seksuele gezondheid : 2017-2022

The National Action Plan on STIs, HIV and Sexual Health presents an integral approach for the coming five years that is centred around a positive approach to sexuality. A principle of sexual health is that the inhabitants of the Netherlands should be properly informed and able to make sensible choices in the matter. As well as good preventive measures, they must have easily accessible and affordable care in the event of problems. The action plan has six cornerstones. Two of them are overarching topics: sexuality education, and surveillance and monitoring. Sexuality education is the basis for healthy sexual development and is important for preventing STIs, HIV, unwanted pregnancies and sexual violence. Surveillance means keeping track of how many people experience problems. This data is needed if effective measures, treatment and policy are to be set up. The effect is then recorded (monitoring). The other four cornerstones state specific objectives for STIs, HIV, unwanted pregnancies and sexual violence, particularly among vulnerable groups. One of those opbjectives is to reduce long term complications resulting from the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia. Another target is to halve the number of new cases annually of syphilis, gonorrhoea and HIV. The following objectives for HIV have been included in the action plan: 95 per cent of people with HIV will by 2022 be aware that they have the virus, 95 per cent of them will be treated for it, and in 95 percent of these patients the HIV virus will no longer be detectable. Another target is that nobody will be dying of AIDS any more in the Netherlands. To prevent unwanted pregnancies, it is important that everyone in the Netherlands has easy access to contraception and proper information. Combating sexual violence is important, as is care for the victims. That is why schools will pay attention structurally to behaviour that crosses the line. Training and refresher courses for professionals in the healthcare and education sectors are central to this. The National Action Plan on STIs, HIV and Sexual Health for 2017-2022 has been produced under the auspices of the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health) in cooperation with the key parties working in the field that are involved with sexual health.