Family Planning and Tairāwhiti Polytechnic have launched a Family Planning clinic on the Polytechnic’s Gisborne campus.
Ms Judy Campbell, Tairāwhiti Polytechnic’s Chief Executive and Ms Jackie Edmond, Family Planning’s Chief Executive said, "We have taken this joint initiative in response to a student survey that indicated a need for information about, and promotion of, positive sexual health.”
“This move heralds the first of many collaborative approaches as the Polytechnic endeavours to better meet the needs expressed by our students,” said Ms Campbell. “We have a suitable clinic facility and nearly all the students surveyed indicated that they would use the Family Planning service if it was available on site.”
Family Planning’s outreach clinic will be held on Mondays, 12pm – 2pm at the Polytechnic’s Gisborne campus. Students will be able to book appointments from 12pm to 1.30pm, with the last half an hour catering for students who prefer to ‘drop in’. On those weeks when Monday is a public holiday, the clinic will be held on a Tuesday.
With cost being a major barrier for many, Family Planning’s services are free to those aged under 22, and for those over 22 years who hold a Community Services Card the fee is $5.
Led by registered nurse Kaye Foreman, services available at the clinic will include planned and emergency contraception, STI (sexually transmissible infection) checks, PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) advice, cervical smears, and advice on fertility and pregnancy.
“Family Planning is thrilled to be working with Tairawhiti Polytechnic to provide essential sexual and reproductive health services for young people. Having a clinic on the campus is a positive step in improving access for students. Services offered at Family Planning’s Childers Road clinic are not affected by the opening of this new service,” Ms Edmond says.
Family Planning and Tairawhiti Polytechnic hope that by working together it will help our community to take a more positive approach towards sexual health and all related issues.