Helping Canberrans be good lovers, SHFPACT launches free STI Testing clinic for under 30s
Dedicated to helping Canberrans be the best lovers they can be, Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT (SHFPACT) has launched a free walk-in STI Clinic to encourage people aged under 30 to be proactive about their sexual health.
The project has been funded for an initial six months, however, the team at SHFPACT is hopeful a successful trial run will result in implementing the service long-term.
The walk-in clinic, which opened on Tuesday 21 January, offers testing for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and blood borne viruses (BBV) free of charge. There are no appointments, people can simply walk in, register, and be seen by a nurse or doctor. Open late for those with commitments during regular business hours, the walk-in clinic will operate from 4:30pm-7:30pm every Tuesday.
The new service, supported by the ACT Health Directorate, is targeted at the asymptomatic, under-tested under-30 demographic. The clinic will be the only dedicated walk-in STI testing clinic in the region. Along with no-cost testing, sexual health information will be available at the clinic with ample resources accessible and professional educators on hand to answer any questions.
“This is a great opportunity to be tested. Many sexually transmitted infections have no symptoms and by getting tested you are caring for yourself and your partners,” says Dr Clare Holberton, Senior Medical Officer.
“We will be offering different tests. The most common STIs are chlamydia & gonorrhoea this can be tested by peeing into a jar. These infections are also detected on swabs. We will also offer blood tests. These tests check for hepatitis, syphilis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). You do not have to have a blood test – the choice is yours. If the test shows an infection, we will call you to arrange for treatment. We will also help you work out how to let any partners know to get tested and treated.
“For women over 25 who have no symptoms, we can offer cervical cancer screening in addition to the STI testing. This test checks for HPV (human papilloma virus). To do this test you just need to put a swab into your vagina for 20-30 seconds. If no virus is detected your next test will be in five years. If any virus is detected our nurse will contact you about the results and plan further testing.
“I recommend everyone who is having sex to get screened at least once a year. It is reassuring to be able to tell any new partner that you have been screened. Remember you can feel totally fine, have absolutely no symptoms, and still have an STI that you can pass on.”
Tuesday afternoons – 4:30pm – 7:30pm at SHFPACT Clinic Level 1, 28 University Avenue Canberra. Free for people under 30 years
