The GGD Drenthe is “very satisfied” with the visit of the health service to the Rainbow Festival in Emmen. The GGD was there yesterday with a special bus to provide information and to set vaccinations against hepatitis B.
“I lost my voice a bit yesterday,” laughs Dianne Schiemer of the GGD. “We have spoken to so many people. We are really very positive.” The GGD indicated in advance that it would be satisfied if a hundred people were spoken to. That number has been exceeded. “We actually talked to hundreds of people.”
Nevertheless, it has not been possible to vaccinate people against hepatitis B. Schiemer is not too worried about it. “We gave out a lot of flyers,” she explains. “People often don’t know everything and then want to think about it first. That is also a benefit.” Schiemer therefore expects people to get an injection at a later date.
The GGD received various questions from the Rainbow Festival visitors. For example, employees spoke about being queer and coming out of the closet. “For some people this was the first event they attended after their coming out.” Incidentally, not only people from the LGBTIQ + community were spoken to. “Everything has been discussed. For example, we also talked about contraception and sexuality.”
A major crowd puller was the so-called condom council. Visitors could guess how many condoms were in a large glass jar. “Then you start talking to each other and ask if they are familiar with what the GGD does,” says Schiemer. “90 percent actually had no idea.” According to Schiemer, many people do not know that you can also contact the GGD with questions about sexual health. “Then some people’s mouths drop open.”
Schiemer thinks that the GGD has put itself on the map. “We hope to reach a target group that may need us the most. People like to hear that they can contact us for free and anonymously.”
All in all, using the GGD bus at festivals makes you want more. “And that could also be done at other festivals, because young people under 25 really belong to our target group,” Schiemer concludes.