ANEM organises these initiatives promoting sexual and reproductive health among young people through the “Safe&Fest” project, which is appearing at festivals from the north to the south of the country this summer, the association stated in a press release.

Following activities at FAUPfest (held in the gardens of the University of Porto’s Faculty of Architecture), Sound Waves in Esmoriz (Ovar), and Sons no Parque in Alijó, the project will also be present at Vodafone Paredes de Coura, located at the Tabuão River Beach, from 12 August to 15.

The association cites recent data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) showing that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to rise in Portugal and Europe, “reflecting a worrying trend and a significant public health challenge.”

In light of this situation, ANEM has advocated for strengthening prevention policies through integrated strategies that promote health literacy, combat stigma, encourage prevention, facilitate early diagnosis, and ensure timely access to healthcare.

“Health promotion is one of ANEM’s top priorities, and we believe this commitment is also realised through direct engagement with the community,” says association president Maria Fontão, as quoted in the statement.

According to Fontão, Safe&Fest allows them to reach “the settings where young people are, promoting credible, evidence-based information and encouraging more informed choices regarding sexual and reproductive health.”

“At a time when we are witnessing a rise in sexually transmitted infections, these initiatives take on even greater importance in protecting young people’s health and boosting health literacy,” Maria Fontão maintains. Safe&Fest is one of ANEM’s key community initiatives in the field of health promotion, mobilising medical students to conduct awareness-raising activities at festivals, academic parties, and other events attended by thousands of young people across the country, where barrier contraceptives and informational materials are distributed.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), sexually transmitted infections reached record levels in Europe in 2024, with sharp increases in gonorrhoea and syphilis and growing gaps in testing and prevention.

Data from 2024 show that gonorrhoea cases reached 106,331, a 303% increase since 2015, while syphilis cases more than doubled during the same period, reaching 45,577.

Chlamydia remains the most frequently reported sexually transmitted infection (STI), with 213,443 cases, and lymphogranuloma venereum also continued to show “ongoing transmission,” with 3,490 reported cases.

In its latest reports, the ECDC indicates that the data show “sustained transmission across several countries” and calls for urgent action to prevent further spread, including among women of reproductive age.

The ECDC urges public health authorities to urgently update national strategies and strengthen surveillance systems to monitor the impact of prevention efforts better.