Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546398
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 2 SEPTEMBER 2026 NEWS MAYA GALEA mgalea@mediatoday.com.mt Increase resources for sexual health services, Momentum urges government MOMENTUM is urging gov- ernment to step up its resources for sexual health services and improve access to testing amid a surge in sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Data cited by Momentum show that STI notifications in- creased from 262 in 2015 to 1,307 in 2025, as visits to geni- tourinary services also increased from 3,969 in 2015 to 7,461 last year. The party said the expansion of public sexual health services had not kept pace with the increase in demand. It noted that ser- vices were historically concen- trated at Mater Dei's GU Clinic, with government beginning to decentralise provision through clinics in Mellieħa, Marsaxlokk and Victoria in 2023. Momentum noted that pa- tients were nevertheless re- portedly facing waiting times of up to nine weeks for routine screening. Momentum executive member Natasha Azzopardi attributed the pressure on public services to Malta's population growth, arguing that increased demand had not been matched by the right investment. The party is calling for a review of the capacity of Malta's sexu- al health services, additional screening provision where re- quired, and improved access to testing. It also called for Malta's Na- tional Sexual Health Strategy 2026–2030 to be adequate- ly funded and implemented, alongside more emphasis on sexual health education and prevention. The movement said information on STI pre- vention, testing, treatment and contraception should be clear, evidence-based and accessible to Malta's increasingly interna- tional population. "Government cannot contin- ue increasing the population without planning for the cor- responding increase in demand on public services. Economic growth must go hand in hand with investment in the quality and capacity of the services that society depends on." MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Momentum noted that patients were nevertheless reportedly facing waiting times of up to nine weeks for routine screening Woman charged with knife attack on partner has case dropped A Russian woman was charged with domestic violence after police were called to her Qaw- ra residence for the 14th time in a year following another ar- gument with her partner. The case was later dropped after the alleged victim said he did not wish to proceed against her. The court heard that when officers arrived at the scene, they found the alleged victim with injuries to his hands and face, as well as a cut to his head. An ambulance was called and the man was taken to Ma- ter Dei Hospital. Officers from the Domestic Violence Unit also attended, where the man filed a report. The prosecution said the in- juries were allegedly sustained during an altercation between the couple, during which the woman allegedly attacked her partner with a knife. The court was told that the accused her- self had called the police fol- lowing the incident. During the proceedings, parte civile lawyer José Her- rera informed the court that the alleged victim no longer wished to proceed against the accused. Herrera also told the court that police had been called over incidents involving the couple 14 times in the space of a year, describing the relation- ship as a "very toxic relation- ship." The man then took the wit- ness stand and confirmed that he wished to withdraw his complaint. Before doing so, the court warned him that he had the right not to testify and the right not to say anything that could incriminate him. The court accepted the re- quest and proceedings against the woman were discontinued. Inspector Omar Zammit prosecuted. Defence lawyer Brendan Muscat appeared for the accused while lawyer Jose Herrera appeared for the parte civile. File photo