The TCU Health Center has partnered with CAN Community Health to inform students about the importance of STI screenings.
Know Your Status Flyer posted in the TCU Health Center. (DaZiah Knox)
CAN Community Health offers free STI testing of the entire panel, including HIV, hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. The testing involves various methods such as blood draws, finger pokes and urine and swab samples.
The process is not only free, but quick, easy and confidential. CAN Community was on campus Feb. 12 from 9-4 p.m.
“Students don’t have to pay out of pocket each time they come in for testing,” Lucas Malauan, CAN Community Health program specialist, said.
Most students feel discouraged from getting tested due to cost or fear of results. TCU Health Center has provided resources to calm students’ common fears.
“That was another reason that we started doing the CAN clinic screenings, was so that people knew that for sure there was going to be zero out of pocket,” said Jessica Reed, a registered nurse specializing in sexual health and women’s health.
After students are screened by CAN, they can follow up with the TCU Health Center for treatment or utilize CAN’s resources. This includes prescriptions and injection medications, all of which are administered on campus.
CAN and the TCU Health Center prioritize confidential testing and treatment. Students are directly called with their results and will not have anything sent to their home address.
Besides TCU, CAN has partnered with other local colleges in the DFW area, such as UT Arlington and Tarrant County Community College.
If students missed today’s event, CAN will be back at TCU on March 5 and April 2 from 9-4 p.m. to provide free screenings. But the TCU Health Center also provides free screenings with insurance or small costs out of pocket year-round.