Festival goers need to undergo STD testing to gain entry to VIP area at Splendour In The Grass

Organisers of Splendour in the Grass are offering free VIP passes to festival patrons who undergo an STD test at the festival. 

Health experts revealed a thousand music fans will test positive to a dangerous sex disease at Splendour in the Grass. 

In order to gain entry into the VIP tent, festival goers need to take the five-minute test.  

Organisers of Splendour in the Grass are offering free VIP passes to festival patrons who undergo an STD test this weekend

Authorities hope to lure in Byron Bay punters inside the VIP tent with ‘squeaky clean’ toilets, phone charging stations, ice water, a glitter bar and a chill out lounge. 

Music fans will simply have to ‘pee in a cup’ in the ‘luxury VIP toilets’ and supply their details to get access to the tent rife with perks.  

The initiative is part of the award-winning Down to Test program and was launched in 2017, The Daily Telegraph reported. 

Last year more than 2500 festival patrons provided urine samples and 71 tested positive to chlamydia.   

Of the 30,000 festival goers expected to attend the 2018 event, about one thousand of them will be carrying chlamydia health experts report.

Of the 30,000 festival goers expected to attend the 2018 event, about one thousand of them will be carrying chlamydia health experts report

NSW Health’s STI Program Unit head Dr Chris Bourne said the growing number of people infected was worrying.

‘Music festivals present an opportunity to reach our target audience, raise awareness of STIs and reduce the stigma around testing. And results show this program is working he said. 

‘We hope record numbers will visit our VIP tent and in return we offer a ‘chill out’ area, free phone charging, clean toilets, a make-up bar and peace of mind.’ 

The test and its results are confidential and participants will receive their results within days.  

The sexually transmitted disease doesn’t always show symptoms, with many people unaware they have the infection. 

In New South Wales alone, 28,000 chlamydia notifications were issued. 

Health experts have revealed a thousand music fans will test positive to a dangerous sex disease at Splendour in the Grass (pictured)

Of the 30,000 festival goers expected to attend the three-day New South Wales event (pictured), about one thousand of them will be carrying chlamydia

Of the 30,000 festival goers expected to attend the three-day New South Wales event (pictured), about one thousand of them will be carrying chlamydia

The Down To Test VIP tent will be erected at the festival encouraging concert-goers to take the free five-minute test to determine if they are infected or not.

The NSW Health run tent, which is working with Pash Consortium, will be the first, large scale STD testing station.

Franklin John-Leader from Pash Consortium said they were aiming to eradicate the stigma around sexual disease testing.

Music fans will simply have to ‘pee in a cup’ in the ‘luxury VIP toilets’ and supply their details to get access to the tent rife with perks at the festival (left and right)

‘It’s as easy as peeing in a jar. People think it’s so complicated and cumbersome. But it’s simple and we want to normalise testing,’ he told Sydney Morning Herald.

‘We’re also expecting to give out thousands of free condoms.’ 

The tent will only determine whether participants have chlamydia, a disease which can lead to infertility, as it is the most common STI affecting one in 20 young people. 

The STD tent follows several smaller testing stations held at other festivals where 71 out of 2500 people tested positive to chlamydia – a result which has almost doubled over the last decade.

CHLAMYDIA

What is it?

A bacterial infection which can infect the urethra, cervix, rectum and throat in women and the penis, rectum and throat in men. 

How common is the STI?

It is most prevalent in young people aged between 15 and 25-years-old. 

How is it caught?

Through having sex without a condom with someone who has the disease. 

What are the symptoms?

Signs of chlamydia occur with seven to 21 days after infection but most people do not get any symptoms.

Women can have signs of bleeding, lower abdominal pain and unusual vaginal discharge.

Men can have signs of discharge from penis and pain in testicles or rectum.

How is it treated?

With a round of oral antibiotics.

What happens if it goes untreated?

There is a risk of infertility if untreated.

Source: Sexual Health Australia 



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