Aberdeen students will today (Friday, November 17) launch a health manifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2007.
This manifesto, which students are seeking to be adopted by all major political parties, sets out students' needs in relation to their health and wellbeing.
The second in a series of six manifestos, NUS Scotland is launching the student health manifesto at the University of Aberdeen. The manifesto will call for a full review of the provision of sexual health services across Scotland. With rates of sexually transmitted infections rising and waiting times for GUM services ever increasing, the need for better funded, staffed and resourced services has never been more pertinent. NUS Scotland will be calling for greater investment in these services in addition to further pilots of mobile clinics addressing poor provision in more rural areas.
The launch of manifesto will be followed by a Question Time-style panel debate in the new Aberdeen student centre, The Hub. Lewis MacDonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, will be taking part in the event chaired by James Alexander, President of NUS Scotland. Mr MacDonald, who also serves as Deputy Health Minister will be joined on the panel by Pauline Gerrard, from the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations, Richard Miller, President of Aberdeen University Students' Association and Barney Crockett, head of Grampian Racial Equality Council.
Speaking on the publication, James Alexander, NUS Scotland President, said: "There is so much more to the student experience than student funding. This is why issues relating to student health are a critical part of why students will be voting in next May's elections. This manifesto raises issues from prescription charges to students' mental health and alcohol misuse.
"Many students face serious problems accessing sexual health services, and with STIs on the increase, improving the sexual health of Scottish students if of the utmost importance."