Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Adolescent Health Project Adds Free West Omaha STD Testing Site

  The Adolescent Health Project, a program of the Women’s Fund of Omaha, has a new free STD testing site for young people at the Methodist Women’s Health Center just north of 190th and W. Dodge Road.  

 

Brenda Council, Adolescent Health Project Manager, says the program was launched in 2015 after Omaha had experienced 15 consecutive years of exceeding the national average in STD rates. She says all of their sites provide free testing and treatment to those ages 15 to 24, and they currently work with seven clinical providers.

 

 “And each of those partners have a variety of testing locations. For example, One World – you can test at all of their clinic locations for free. Same with Charles Drew at their numerous locations. And then all of them do testing and outreach, like Douglas County, who, in addition to their main clinic, conduct free STD testing at the public libraries, among other places.”

 

Council says in 2016 Chlamydia reached an all-time high in Douglas County and that there was a 30% rise in Gonorrhea rates. She says the Adolescent Health Project has increased the number of young people who are accessing testing and treatment services.  Council says their ultimate goal is prevention through education.   

 

The testing sites and hours are available on getcheckedomaha.com.