Communication is at the Heart of Valentines Day

Communication is at the Heart of Valentines Day – Family Planning

13 February, 2006

Love and romance are healthy elements of happy relationships and they are key to Family Planning work this Valentines Day.

Family Planning Executive Director, Dr Gill Greer says at the heart of relationships is communication and she is reminding couples to take time to talk and spend some quality time together on Valentines Day tomorrow.

To remind New Zealanders that taking time to sustain their relationships is important, Family Planning has organised a series of events throughout the country concentrating on the proposition “love is…..”

Family Planning health promoters are running a competition for people to complete the sentence “love is….” and they will be out and about in many areas including Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Hawkes Bay, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wellington, Marlborough and Dunedin, highlighting positive relationships.

Family Planning health promoters will be giving out Whittakers chocolates and working with provincial radio stations and other media to promote the value of a little romance in a relationship. Through generous sponsorship, Family Planning has a number of Valentines Day gift packages to give away that include gift baskets and dinner vouchers.

Dr Greer says good communication contributes to healthy relationships and if these Valentines Day activities get people talking more to each other, then that is a good thing.

“If the relationship is sexual, then ensuring both partners are safe is vital. This means having a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) check if either partner has had unprotected sex with another person.

“Our advice is don’t have sex with anyone until you know they do not have an STI.”

Dr Greer says while some couples may feel awkward initiating this conversation, it is an important part of building a positive relationship where people have respect for each other.

ENDS

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