Planned Parenthood calls for policy effort to combat rising STD rates
The cases of sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise in Minnesota and Planned Parenthood is calling on the state government to ramp up efforts to fight it.
Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota released a report Wednesday examining statistics from the Minnesota Department of Health.
The numbers show STD infections are on the rise throughout the state. For example, the department's STD report in April showed 17,000 infections in 2008, the highest ever reported.
Among the group's suggestions are more funding for STD testing and treatment, having the Health Department write a comprehensive plan to significantly reduce STD infections in five years and for the department to calculate the annual cost to the health care system of untreated STDs.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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