The growth in the number of sexually transmitted diseases is a result of government policy.

This was stated by the director of Aidsfonds – Soa Aids Nederland, Mark Vermeulen, in an opinion piece in Het Parool.

Vermeulen writes that for years very little has been invested in STI care. The budget for sexual health care centres, which offer free anonymous care and, among other things, STI tests and free condoms, has not been adjusted to match the increased demand for care since 2015. According to Vermeulen, there is only room in the centres for half of the people who come to them in need of care. “It is incomprehensible that the new government wants to cut spending on prevention and public health even further.”

Vermeulen also calls for the return of an annual national public campaign emphasizing condom use, like the Freely Safe campaigns of the past. “Funding for the Freely Safe campaigns was stopped in 2011, and condom use among young people has been declining every year since then,” the director said.

With his letter, Vermeulen responds to the Diemen municipality’s decision to provide condoms free of charge. Although Aidsfonds – Soa Aids Nederland welcomes this initiative, it also reveals a problem, according to the director: “Because the Dutch government neglects this task – providing access to good sexual health care – the municipalities feel obliged to sort this out themselves.” Vermeulen is therefore calling for a national approach. “It is time for the Dutch government to take responsibility.”