University of the Sciences Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) will be partnering with SafeGuards LGBT Health and Resource Center to bring regular testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) to campus. SafeGuards is a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) health resource center in Philadelphia that is interested in branching out and working with more communities and groups.
USciences previously offered STD testing through efforts from Alliance, the gay and lesbian organization on campus. This new arrangement will allow SHAC to make the testing more frequent for students.
The clinic will offer HIV Rapid Testing (no blood work, only a cheek swab) and testing for other STDs via simple urine samples. It will be held in the SHAC suite in Whitecar Hall on campus, every two or three weeks starting September 12.
While there may be preconceptions about having such services at a university, it is an important initiative.
“We really want students to take charge of their health,” stated Alicia Miller, health information data analyst at SHAC. “Whenever you go to the doctor, it should just be another thing…it’s not something that should be taboo.”
Miller is looking forward to the upcoming semester and what SHAC has planned.
“We’re trying to bring more to campus than just the STD testing, more of a sexual health initiative.”
Questions or suggestions are welcome and can be sent to Alicia Miller at a.miller@usciences.edu.