By Olusola O. Muhammad
18/12/2004 8:04:26 AM

Years ago and probably still today, you could often hear the derogatory term 'slapper' (loose women) on television programmes, on the lips of women talking about other women and from men talking about their 'conquests' at parties and in clubs, as they spoke 'traditionally' about white women who they considered easy, loose and promiscuous.

Twenty years later John Reid the Health Secretary warns that sexually transmitted disease (STD's) is reaching "epidemic proportions" among 'British' women and requires a response such as that given to the AIDS campaigns of the 1980's.

The AIDS campaign of the 1980's involved the government taking out adverts featuring tombstones to drive home the message that sleeping around could cost you your life.

Three years ago the government launched a £47m strategy to stop the then increasing rates of sexually transmitted infections (STI's). The sexual behaviour of the population has not changed and this year STI's of gonorrhoea, HIV, syphilis (canine disease), and Chlamydia are still on the increase.

The response being considered to halt the sexually transmitted diseases epidemic is to spend £300 million on genito-urinary clinics (GNC's), they "will receive £130m for modernisation, £50m will go on an advertising campaign for under 25s - the largest of its kind for 20 years...£80m to roll out a Chlamydia screening programme across the UK and £40m will be used to upgrade prevention services such as contraceptive services".

Of particular concern to the government is the 139 per cent increase in Chlamydia among British women. The disease shows no symptoms if a woman is infected and causes infertility by damaging the fallopian tubes from which eggs pass into the womb.

Looking for greener pastures abroad and having a desire to marry the media-television-portrayed standard of 'beauty', emigration from far off lands to the UK is on the mind of many. Due consideration of the fact that "One in 10 young, sexually active women in the UK is now infected [with Chlamydia] should put this in check.

With change being the constant in the universe, access to education, a technically advanced society, clean water, ample food and excellent transportation systems the length and breadth of the country, such a highly advanced civilization has not helped the moral fibre of this nation among the young and old.

In a Sunday Times article, "Young, wild and always up for it", echoing the sentiments of many of her generation, "Suzy, a 24-year-old television researcher from London, says: The majority of my friends have had at least 20 sexual partners and they're certainly not worried about the occasional abortion or HIV scare...they'll go out and have unprotected sex and, rather than worry about it, they'll just take four contraceptive pills afterwards. All my friends have sex with each other... there's no taboo about that - it's perfectly acceptable to sleep with a friend simply because you're a bit bored one afternoon. No commitment, no worries. And if you get pregnant, have an abortion".

Among the elderly in any decent society we expect guidance, moral rectitude and the upholding of values and principles upon which those coming behind can follow. And, "grandparents’ behaving badly is not something either society or their kids want to think about". Can we follow the increasingly promiscuous attitudes of the over-65's in the UK as reported in the Guardian newspaper? "Where in the whole UK population rates of gonorrhoea and syphilis have increased by 55 per cent since 1995, in the 65-plus age group the rise is more than 300 per cent".

According to the 'HIV and Other Sexually Infections in the UK in 2003', 2004 Report by the Health Protection Agency, "Genital Chlamydia infection was the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection (STI)... in 2003. The highest rates of diagnoses were among women aged 16-19 and men aged 20-24 at 1334/100 000 and 961/100 000, respectively. Since the mid-1990's the number of Chlamydia diagnoses has risen steadily throughout the UK, with the greatest increases occurring in London and the North West. The burden of infection is greatest in women, increasing from 17,297 diagnoses in 1995 to 49,601 in 2003".

The virtue of each other is an innate cherished desire and still practiced globally, however an on-line International Survey of sexual attitudes by 'Euro RSCG Worldwide' says, "Single Britons are the most promiscuous in the world". The survey found that "59 per cent of Britons thought it normal for a thirty something to have had 10 or more lovers before getting married. Less than half the British respondents said staying faithful to one partner was natural".

Promiscuity, over-65's frolicking in old-peoples homes late at night, adultery, teenage pregnancy, politicians having affairs are indicative of an immoral society whose cup to the outside world is as gold, but within the cup is abominations, filth and debauchery.

Such licentious lifestyles according to the Sunday Times magazine 28/4/02 even plagues quiet genteel English towns such as Worthing in plush scenic Sussex where married couples attend parties to indulge in 'swinging' (sex) with other married couples. Who knows what will plague those involved in their "socio-sexual recreation" with the majority participating being "married, over 35 and often with grown-up children".

"Ministers have dithered and delayed on sexual health. Sex infections are rocketing, and finally the government is waking up to the problem." But, the most disconcerting aspect of the campaign to reduce SDI's in the UK is that money is being poured into campaigns that encourage sex using contraceptives, but nothing is said of the best contraceptive of them all, abstinence and no sex before marriage.