The TCU Health Center has teamed up with CAN Community Health to promote the importance of STI screenings among students. This partnership aims to make testing accessible and stress-free.
CAN Community Health provides free STI tests for various infections, including HIV, hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. The testing methods are straightforward—blood draws, finger pokes, urine samples, or swabs. It’s quick, easy, and completely confidential.
Many students hesitate to get tested due to cost or anxiety about the results. Lucas Malauan, a CAN program specialist, emphasizes, “Students don’t have to pay out of pocket for testing.” This reassurance is crucial, as many students find financial concerns a significant barrier.
Jessica Reed, a registered nurse specializing in sexual health, adds, “We started these clinics so that students know they won’t face any costs.” After testing, students can return to the TCU Health Center for treatment or use CAN’s services, which include prescriptions and injections available on campus.
Confidentiality is a priority for both CAN and the TCU Health Center. Students receive their results directly, without any letters sent home. This commitment helps alleviate fears surrounding the testing process.
CAN Community Health isn’t just at TCU; they also collaborate with other local colleges like UT Arlington and Tarrant County Community College. If students missed the recent event, CAN will return to TCU on March 5 and April 2 from 9 AM to 4 PM for more free screenings. Meanwhile, the TCU Health Center offers year-round screenings, often at no cost with insurance.
Additional insights into STI screening behaviors reveal that many young adults are still not getting tested regularly. According to a recent survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 50% of sexually active individuals aged 18-24 had not been tested for STIs in the past year. This highlights the ongoing need for awareness and accessible healthcare solutions like those provided by CAN and TCU.
