The regional sexual health strategy aims to improve access for all residents of the region to prevention (education about emotional and sexual life, contraception, risk reduction, etc.), to screening (HIV, hepatitis, sexual infections). transmissible) and care (people living with HIV, people victims of sexual violence, etc.). It pays particular attention to the populations most exposed to risks and those furthest from the healthcare system.
The roadmap sets four objectives to achieve this ambition : strengthen the readability and accessibility of the sexual health offer in the territories; promote sexual health in a global and positive approach, prevent the risk of STI/HIV/hepatitis infection, improve health pathways in terms of STI/HIV/viral hepatitis.
With this roadmap, ARS Hauts-de-France is strengthening access to local prevention means and resources. The agency works with its partners – health professionals, associations, CeGIDD, sexual health centers, etc. – to deploy multiple tools in terms of vaccination, screening and access to condoms or other pre-exposure preventive treatments such as PrEP.
Several vaccines exist and are effective in protecting against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or those linked to sexual health.. The ARS mobilizes stakeholders in the health system throughout the year to offer these vaccinations, including the organization of the campaign against HPV in colleges, the deployment of an offer of vaccination outreach against Mpox, but also the promotion of vaccination against hepatitis A and B.
In terms of screeningthe objective is to be able to offer the most diverse and accessible offer possible. In addition to guaranteeing the multiplicity of places where a test can be carried out, several measures have been put in place to facilitate and strengthen access to screening such as “HIV test” which allows access to an HIV test free of charge, without a prescription and without meet at the city laboratory. Since the start of the school year, this system has been extended to four other STIs (“My STI test”) for city screening of hepatitis B, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.
In addition to being a contraceptive tool, condoms remain the most effective method to protect yourself and others from STIs. While in France we have seen a decline in the use of condoms and an increase in STIs in France for several years, the ARS Hauts-de-France allocates condom allocations each year to regional sexual health stakeholders. In 2024, 640,000 condoms will be allocated to partners to be distributed widely. Furthermore, since January 1, 2023, all young people under the age of 26 can also have access to free condoms (female and male) by going to a pharmacy, without a medical prescription and 100% covered by Insurance. Disease.
CeGIDD, an essential local offer
Present throughout the region, the free Information, Screening and Diagnostic Centers (CeGIDD) are essential local structures in sexual health prevention and care.
These centers offer:
- personalized information and advice on HIV, STIs or any sexuality-related issue;
- screening and drug treatments for STIs based on identified needs and risks;
- vaccination against hepatitis, Papillomavirus and monkeypox;
- psychological and social support if necessary following an initial information and/or screening consultation;
- referral to specialized offers or consultations according to needs (gynecology, infectious diseases, forensic doctors, association helping victims of violence or discrimination, etc.).
The ARS Hauts-de-France carried out the renewal of CeGIDD authorizations in the Nord department in 2024 with the aim of offering users an increased medical presence. Always located in the city, as close as possible to living areas, the CeGIDD du Nord are now supported by hospital teams with recognized expertise in infectious diseases and sexual health.
17 CeGIDD are accessible in Hauts-de-France and two additional centers will open mid-January in Roubaix and during 1is semester 2025 in Armentières. In 2024, the ARS has allocated nearly 8 million euros to CeGIDD.
