Lack of Gatineau sexual health clinic criticized by activists, doctors

West Quebec sexual health advocates areasking the province to help open a walk-inclinic in Gatineau, saying people living there don't have good access to testing and treatmentof sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The Bureau Rgionald'Action Sidade l'Outaouais (BRAS) wrote to Quebec Health Minister Gatan Barrette about this issue in February, but only sent the letter to the media last week.

• Read the French letter here
• BureauRgionald'ActionSidadel'Outaouais

The HIV/AIDS non-profit said the lack ofaccess to sexual health resources in west Quebec is putting people's health at risk.

Ottawa Public Health stopped testing mostQuebec residents last year and a walk-in Gatineau clinic lasted only a few monthsbefore closing in February.

The doctor who ran that short-lived clinicby himselfsaid the only way for residents in Gatineauto get tested for an STI is through a family doctor or emergency room, which don't offer specialized care,or by driving to outlying areas such as Papineauville or Wakefield.

"It's a bit of a bizarre situation where people in the rural areas have better access to service than in the urban area," said Dr. Rmi De Champlain, a family doctor who focuses on sexual health.

De Champlain said they need a clinic because the city isnearing a "social health crisis" but a vastly different scenario is well within reach.

"Just last year in Ottawa there were 4,000 visits of Quebec patients wanting to get STI testing in Ottawa, so that's 4,000 occasions to test for these that aren't going to happen," he said.

"There are so many STIs going on, if nothing is done the amount of people with infertility problems, problems with HIV is going to be overwhelming just in this region. There is so much progress and we have so many tools now with medication It would be ridiculous to be a victim of all these complications that are so easy to fix."

Health agency meetsTuesday

Ottawa Public Health said in the past they would take basically anyone who came in but last summer they started to redirect people to their local sexual health resource centre.

However, they said they won't turn down anyone with an urgent need for treatment.

Hull MNA MaryseGaudreaultsaid finding resources for STIs is a challenge, especially in her area.

"I've been speaking with (community organizations) and I'll make sure to bring this issue to the health minister and make sure there's a strategy to give services to that special clientele," she said.

The local health and social services centre, theCentre intgr de sant et de services sociaux de l'Outaouais, said Monday it's aware there's a need for these services in the region and is having an internal meeting about it on Tuesday.