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SALEM --The Salem Health Department is working to offer anonymous at-home STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) testing.
Public Health Nurse Chelsea Clark said that she had recently attended a training to provide take-home STI test kits. Clark said that those in need of testing could discuss their symptoms with the department's nursing staff to determine what kind of test they need, which they can then take home and complete anonymously. Clark also said that once the test was completed the department could provide those in need with a list of resources available to them for treatment free of charge.
"The way that I'm looking to set it up is we bring people in on a certain day, or by appointment to discuss which test they may need, we give them their test and the way they do it is completely anonymous, so they don't even have to put a name on it. They just go home, take the test how it's prescribed for them in the instructions and send that in, and follow up with a list of providers for free treatment," said Clark.
Clark said that there was a quiz to determine which kind of kit would best meet a person's individual needs which they could help them complete in person and could also be completed remotely.
The department will also be holding its first public CPR certification training from 4-8 p.m. July 10 at a cost of $50 per person. Participants will be certfied upon completion of the training.
The housing department has maintained its increased rate inspections, with Health Commissioner Kayla Crowl saying the department was on track to be completely caught up on its backlogged inspections by the end of the year. Crowl also announced