As part of an ongoing campaign, the Health and Wellness Services clinic at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus offered free tests for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) last Wednesday. The tests that are offered for free are for gonorrhea and chlamydia. Free testing for these STIs is available on the first Wednesday of every month at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus and the first Thursday of the month at the South City Campus.
Health and Wellness Services is able to perform these tests for free because part of each student’s fees goes towards maintaining these services. Health and Wellness Services does offer these tests for students at other times for a $5.00 charge.
“We are definitely helping students,” Tatiana Burton, Health Promotions Program Manager said. “It is definitely worth the time and money.”
“I think it is a good thing we do,” Danielle Hawk, Graphic Design student said. Hawk works in the Health and Wellness Services office.
Not many students are aware that Health and Wellness Services performs these tests, although they do try to get the word out about their services to the students. They typically have between three and fifteen students come in for these tests on the “free” days.
“We’ve had quite a few people today,” Hawk said.
About 10% of the students that come in for tests have their results come back positive. There is a 70% rate of people with these diseases that do not suffer from typical symptoms.
Test results are usually returned to the office in a day or two. Students that test positive can come into Health and Wellness Services for treatment. The first visit is free, and then the cost is only $10.00 per visit.
“We are here to answer any questions,” Maralie Godeman, Health Promotions Specialist said.
In order to try and help combat the problem of STIs, Health and Wellness does offer free condoms to students.
The Health and Wellness Services clinic is located on the Taylorsville Redwood Campus in the Student Center, Room 035. Their hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. On Wednesday they are open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. At South City the clinic is located in W175. That office is open Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. They are also located in the Jordan Campus in JHS 011. Their hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday. These are posted hours for the summer semester.
Students can find out dates for testing during the school year on the Health and Wellness Services website, http://www.slcc.edu/hw. Health and Wellness Services also has a Facebook page.
