STI AIDS Netherlands (The national institute for STI and AIDS Control in the Netherlands) is a national organisation that aims to:
- prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs & Aids);
- improve the quality of STI control in the Netherlands.
Tasks and services
Health education and prevention
STI AIDS Netherlands develops health education and prevention projects. The primary objective is to prevent sexually transmitted infections occurring. One of the ways this is done is by promoting safer sex. Attention is also given to tracing infection at an early stage through testing, screening and partner notification.
Developing material and methods
STI AIDS Netherlands produces general basic educational materials on STIs and safer sex. It also sets up prevention projects for specific target groups such as young people, sex workers and their customers. In addition, the foundation provides teaching packs for schools, protocols for STI treatment, and quality systems for STI control.
Support
STI AIDS Netherlands offers practical support and 'tailor-made' services to individuals and organisations involved in day-to-day STI control. This varies from training and presentations to ideas for projects and texts for booklets. Professionals in the field can also refer to STI AIDS Netherlands for individual advice, while experts are kept up to date with recent developments by Soa Aids Magazine, newsletters and the web-site. Furthermore, the foundation organises courses and workshops to maintain the dialogue between all those involved in STI control and determine future courses of action.
Advice
STI AIDS Netherlands advices on STI policy to the government, in particular the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, and to other organisations at a national and regional level.
Research
STI AIDS Netherlands encourages social science, epidemiological and clinical research projects in the field of STI control. It also conducts evaluative studies on the effects of its own activities and products.
International
In its role as a national organization, STI AIDS Netherlands keeps a close watch on international developments which may be applicable in the Netherlands or may have consequences for the Dutch situation. It also works in international partnership on several projects.
The organisation
STI AIDS Netherlands employs approximately 80 professionals from a variety of backgrounds. Activities are organised on a project basis, making it possible to react flexibly to the latest developments in the STI field.
STI AIDS Netherlands is one of the many players active in STI control in the Netherlands. It works closely with both national and regional partners, and adminsters the Dutch STI prevention and control forum. This is a multidisciplinary forum of experts who develop future strategies in the area of STI prevention and control.
STI AIDS Netherlands is primarily government-funded. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport provides the basic funding. Many of its projects receive grants in the Netherlands from ZonMW (a research funding institute), the Aids Fonds, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or from the European Union. A limited number of activities are funded by sponsors.
Further information
This site provides basic information on STIs and safer sex for the general public in the Netherlands. This information is available in Dutch and English. An extensive part of the site is devoted to information for professionals involved in STI control. Further details about the role of STI AIDS Netherlands and its projects are also available in English for professionals who are interested in more information on the Dutch approach.
The prostitution site offers information on prostitution and health. This Dutch language site is intended for use by sex workers, customers of sexworkers, brothel owners & students who want write about sexwork.
The AIDS STI Infoline provides round-the-clock help and information to people with questions about HIV/AIDS and other STIs. The line is open on weekdays from from 2 - 10 pm for personal advice. Tel 0900 204 2040 or 0900 AIDSSOA.
STI AIDS Netherlands
Keizersgracht 390-392
1016 GB Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel. 31 (0)20 - 62 62 669
fax: 31 (0)20 - 62 75 221
e-mail: info@soaaids.nl
STI AIDS Netherlands is not a funding agency. Therefore, requests for financial assistance are not encouraged.
