sexhealthnews.org

On July 9,2001, the Surgeon General of the United States, David Satcher, wrote a document introducing “A Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior.” This “Call to Action” came because of “alarmingly high levels of sexually transmitted disease and HIV/AIDS infection, unintended pregnancies, abortion, sexual dysfunction, and sexual violence in the United States.” The Surgeon General went on to document that if we were going to change these negative public health outcomes, that it was then necessary to appreciate what sexual health is. He began a collaborative process based on a series of scientific review papers contributed by experts in relevant fields: on recommendations developed at two national conferences; and on extensive review and comment from a wide range of experience, expertise, and perspective with representation from the academic, medical, and religious communitites, policy makers, advocates, teachers, parents, and youth. This collaborative process concluded that the many aspects of sexuality are a fundamental part of human life and include not only the physical, but the mental and spiritual as well, and that sexuality is a core component of personality, important throughout the entire lifespan, not just the reproductive years. Healthy sexuality includes not only individual responsibilities but community responsibilities as well.

Taken from: Introduction to Healthy Sexuality, a SANE perspective, self study module. 2009. Tina Godby-Ware, BSN, RN, SANE-A

You can find the complete A Call to Action document on-line. I would like to hear comments on what people consider healthy sexuality is on the Southern New Mexico Wellness Alliance facebook page.

As a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, my eye always goes toward anything that says sex in it. On Sunday July 27, 2008 the Alamogordo Daily News published a full page article written by Kimberly Hefling of the Associated Press with the headline: Assault victims in military face tough recovery. I was particularly interested in this article because I have treated military patients.

The article talked about victims not reporting right away, sexual assault as a consequence of war, the threat to front-line morale, performance, and long-term well-being. The victims did not report right away because they felt an obligation to continue the mission, not burden others, and wondered how the report would be received.  In January, the VA opened its 16^th inpatient ward specializing in treating victims of military sexual trauma. Psychologist Antonette Zeis of the VA’s office of Mental Health Services stated that identifying victims early and providing care early is going to be important in making a difference in the victim’s lifetime. The article cited several resources for military victims. Copies of this newspaper are available at the Alamogordo Public Library.

The article for me was confirmation of what I have been taught. These same themes occur in all walks of life all around the world.