Yesterday, the Department of Health Information and Research announced that it will be conducting the first ever national sexual health survey which will focus on behaviour, knowledge and other social indicators on the subject.

Let us put this into context. In 1999, over a decade ago, there was an urgent request for the government to draft a national sexual health policy. It was finally published (after a couple of aborted attempts) in 2010. This was followed up in 2011 by the launch of a national sexual health strategy. One year later, we are being told that a survey is being conducted. To put this simply, the squeamishness of this nation and people borders on the stupid.

Take a deep breath and read on. Let us be categorical, open and… sensible. Married people have sex. Some of them cheat. Unmarried people have sex. Some of them cheat. Young people have sex; some of them with multiple partners. Bisexual people have sex. Some cheat. Homosexual people have sex, again, some cheat. Some people might have picked up something when they are younger and later pass it on to their long-term partner. You get the pattern.

What is most worrying is that the common denominator in the above is that in all categories, people have unprotected sex. Let us forget about pregnancy completely and just focus on the health aspect.

Sexual diseases exist, they are out there and they are very easy to contract. Unless two people (whatever their orientation) actually check themselves at a clinic for STDs, there is no way of knowing whether you have one, and can consequentially infect your partner. It takes a huge amount of trust for a couple to engage in sexual relations in full confidence that both are clean and safe.

And that is where the problem stems from. There is nothing at all wrong with a loving sexual relationship where people do not use a condom if they are sure that they can trust their partner. Of course, for this to work, there must be fidelity.

But what about all those who engage in unprotected sex with others? This could range from teenagers on a night out, to those who are married and having an adulterous affair. It is this simple – if you have unprotected sex (especially with a stranger), then you can expose yourself to chlamydia, hepatitis, gonorrhea, warts, herpes, HIV and more.

The time for studies is over. The fact of the matter is plain and simple. People have sex – and in this country – for whatever reason, it tends to be unprotected. And this stems from ignorance. We are not saying that nothing has been done in terms of education. But, would it not make more sense to have a mobile unit which can tour the country and offer tests and advice, rather than asking people about their bedroom habits? This happens in every country in Europe.

We have seen some attempts at raising awareness about using protection. But sadly, we seem to take the same attitude as we do towards drink-driving – we know it’s dangerous, but we’ll do it anyway, because it’s easier.

Something needs to be done and quickly. We cannot continue to pretend to live in a fishbowl society where no one has sex, no one is gay, no one has family problems and life goes on. Ironically, we are the most open about drug abuse – an area where other nations struggle to come to terms with the realities around them. Sex, is a human instinct, need and expression of feelings and it’s an amazing thing. But, just like anything else people must be safe. The authorities need to act, and act now. Pictures of a latex condom dressed on a banana at the back of a pamphlet are not enough; this is too serious to be ignored.