National accolade for women’s clinic

The Chandni Clinic outshone Marie Stopes, Terrence Higgins Trust and Prostate Cancer UK when it was named Adult Sexual Heath Project of the Year 2014.

Representatives of the team picked up the accolade at the UK Sexual Health Awards organised by young people’s charity Brook.

The clinic was set up by the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust at its Dewsbury site in response to a survey which found 70 per cent of local Asian woman had no concept of sexual health issues.

Dr Safia Jabeen, who leads the project, created a facility where women can speak to a female doctor in their own language.

She said: “Talking about sex is still viewed as taboo in some communities. Language and cultural barriers mean some women feel they can’t talk to their GP.

“A lack of knowledge could result in serious consequences such as sexually-transmitted diseases and problems with pregnancy.”

The clinic, which offers advice on contraception and screening for infections, initially opened one morning a week but now sees patients every week day.

It also runs outreach sessions at community centres and mosques which particularly impressed judges.