2008 Woodie Awards
STD testing
Seema Bakshi
Issue date: 4/6/06 Section: News
Chris Christiansen wore a faded black Beatles shirt along with two "support the cause" bracelets on his wrists, and a relaxed confident look on his face.
"I'm pretty sure I'm all right. I've never had any symptoms," he said.
Christiansen, 21, a business major at Modesto Junior College displayed the popular concern amongst many sexually active young men and women related to sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. However, health professionals say that too few share his concern.
Two thirds of the 60 million Americans infected with an STD are under the age of 25. This is mainly because younger people tend to get infected more easily due to immature anatomy. Whatever the reason, it hits closer to home than one might expect.
"[Chlamydia] is of epidemic proportions in Stanislaus County," said Gale Buchanan, clinic coordinator for Family Pact, a free and confidential sexual health clinic located at the MJC West Campus that many students don't know exists.
Family Pact is funded by the California Department of Health Services to offer free medical services to men, women and teens of reproductive age who also don't have private insurance.
"So many people don't have private insurance," Buchanan said. "It shouldn't limit them [from getting health care]."
Family Pact provides services for birth control, hepatitis immunization, counseling and has many different facility locations. With six locations in Modesto, one each in Ceres, Hughson, and Turlock, as well as the clinic available on campus, anyone can get services at a convenient location.
Christiansen, one of the many who didn't know MJC offered Family Pact, decided to take advantage of this opportunity.
On Thursday, March 23, Christiansen, who's in a relationship of six months and who has never been tested for any STD's before, entered room 114 of Yosemite Hall on the West Campus to get screened for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.
He was greeted by Buchanan and Barb Ruddy, the nurse practitioner, who gave him forms and questionnaires to fill out. Because they weren't doing HIV testing, no blood draw was necessary; however, people wishing to get an HIV test are encouraged to go to the McHenry Medical Office located on Woodrow Ave.
"I'm pretty sure I'm all right. I've never had any symptoms," he said.
Christiansen, 21, a business major at Modesto Junior College displayed the popular concern amongst many sexually active young men and women related to sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. However, health professionals say that too few share his concern.
Two thirds of the 60 million Americans infected with an STD are under the age of 25. This is mainly because younger people tend to get infected more easily due to immature anatomy. Whatever the reason, it hits closer to home than one might expect.
"[Chlamydia] is of epidemic proportions in Stanislaus County," said Gale Buchanan, clinic coordinator for Family Pact, a free and confidential sexual health clinic located at the MJC West Campus that many students don't know exists.
Family Pact is funded by the California Department of Health Services to offer free medical services to men, women and teens of reproductive age who also don't have private insurance.
"So many people don't have private insurance," Buchanan said. "It shouldn't limit them [from getting health care]."
Family Pact provides services for birth control, hepatitis immunization, counseling and has many different facility locations. With six locations in Modesto, one each in Ceres, Hughson, and Turlock, as well as the clinic available on campus, anyone can get services at a convenient location.
Christiansen, one of the many who didn't know MJC offered Family Pact, decided to take advantage of this opportunity.
On Thursday, March 23, Christiansen, who's in a relationship of six months and who has never been tested for any STD's before, entered room 114 of Yosemite Hall on the West Campus to get screened for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.
He was greeted by Buchanan and Barb Ruddy, the nurse practitioner, who gave him forms and questionnaires to fill out. Because they weren't doing HIV testing, no blood draw was necessary; however, people wishing to get an HIV test are encouraged to go to the McHenry Medical Office located on Woodrow Ave.