North Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sexually Transmissible Infections Action Plan 2016 - 2021
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to be disproportionately over represented in sexually transmissible infection (STI) statistics.
Sexually transmissible infections can have a significant impact on an individual’s health and wellbeing with both short and long term consequences, including a significant impact on reproductive health. The re-emergence of infectious syphilis, with multiple outbreaks declared across several North Queensland Hospital and Health Services (HHSs), and the occurrences of congenital syphilis, have demonstrated the need for a coordinated regional response to redress the incidence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The North Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sexually Transmissible Infections Action Plan 2016-2021 (Action Plan) (PDF 4.31MB) has been developed in partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Branch and the following North Queensland HHSs:
- Torres and Cape HHS;
- Cairns and Hinterland HHS;
- North West HHS;
- Townsville HHS; and
- Mackay HHS.
The targets of the Action Plan are:
- Eliminate congenital syphilis in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies in North Queensland by December 2017.
- Control the syphilis outbreaks in the North Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population by December 2020.
- Progressively reduce the prevalence of syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in North Queensland.
The Action Plan contains a clear set of actions and responsibilities under the following domains:
- Implementation - strengthening a regional approach
- Promotion and prevention
- Testing and treatment of STIs
- Better health services
- Monitoring and evaluation
Implementation of these domains will ensure sustainable, comprehensive sexual health service provision in North Queensland that is culturally capable and respectful. The Action Plan will be led by the HHSs in partnership with other key health services and input from local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.