New STI service at InterHealth

23 August 2010

Did you know one of the most common conditions picked up by aid workers is an STI?

Did you know one of the most common condition picked up by aid workers is an STI?

We would like to let you know about an important new medical service we now offer at InterHealth. It’s aimed at those returning from abroad, for whom this could be an important issue..

Many health surveys show that one of the most common conditions picked up overseas by aid workers and other travellers is a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

A study undertaken on returned humanitarian aid workers showed that 29.3% admitted having had a sexual relationship with someone other than their regular partner during the mission and half of these had relationships with more than 1 partner. Only 2/3 reported using condoms.

In fact, with the evidence that increasingly comes to light, we consider that ignoring this important area of health screening in travellers would be medically irresponsible.
At present, few travel clinics give this the attention it deserves, and after some careful planning and discussion with the high quality laboratory we use in London, we are now able to arrange STI screening for a very reasonable extra cost. This would be offered to those patients who indicate on their health questionnaire that this is a concern, or who bring this up in conversation.

For these individuals we would offer additional blood investigations and a simple self-administered test which would exclude almost all serious concerns. If we were to find an STI present we would refer the patient either to their GP or to a GUM clinic.

What will it cost?

The cost of the extra tests will amount to the following per individual:

STI tests
Subscriber: £80 Non Subscriber: £100

STI tests (with Hepatitis B) If not previously vaccinated against
Subscriber: £100 Non Subscriber: £115

The equivalent testing at a private practice would cost between £200 - £400.

We are not suggesting that all individuals will want or need this, but for some it will be very important and their only opportunity to be tested. Although many from church and other faith based organisations may be at lower risk, it is our experience from seeing many hundreds of travellers, that at times of loneliness and stress, almost anyone may “slip up” and put themselves at risk.

Some people we see at InterHealth are most appropriately tested further at an STI (GUM) clinic but many people are very reluctant to attend such clinics. Most people would be more willing to have these simple tests carried out at greater convenience when they are having their medical at InterHealth.

We will be offering this to your staff or volunteers who visit us for a Post-Assignment Medical, and at Pre-Assignment Medicals when indicated. In practice it will only be relatively few who need to take this up.

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our medical team at doctors@interhealth.org.uk

Download our information sheet on Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Spotlight

Staying resilient out in the field
Elizabeth is Kenyan. She had been working as a midwife in a camp for IDP’s in another part of Africa. The security situation was volatile and she was evacuated three times by her agency...