Graphic by Lily McCormick
By Lily McCormick
The University of Montevallo will be hosting an HIV testing clinic on campus to combat the spread of STDs.
Student Health Services will hold the Prevention and Education Event on Wednesday, March 8th.
The clinic is open for HIV rapid testing from 10 a.m. -2 p.m. and students are not required to make an appointment beforehand. There will also be $10 Walmart gift cards and snacks provided for participation.
This event comes after the CDC’s new data that shows STD spread has hit an all-time high for the sixth consecutive year. In addition, the CDC “estimates that youth ages 15-24 account for almost half of the 26 million new sexually transmitted infections that occurred in the United States in 2018”.
More statistics on STDs can be found on the CDC’s website.
The Alabama Department of Public Health will send a Family Planning Care Coordinator and Public Health Educator to the event as an additional resource for students.
The program is an example of Student Health Services expanding to meet the needs of students.
“I drove to an urgent care facility in Hoover when I needed to get tested for syphilis,” said a UM student who asked to remain anonymous due to the sensitive subject matter. “If I had known I could do it through the University, it would’ve saved me some time and money.”
By providing students with a safe and convenient way to get tested, the university hopes that students may be more likely to do so instead of avoiding it.
“Alabama Department of Public Health comes to campus for convenience for our students and to spread the word that their services are available to them,” said the Director of Student Health Services, Kim Moon.
The date of a fall semester event is to be determined. In the meantime, students can find more information about the Shelby County Clinic on the Alabama Department of Public Health’s website.
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