STI&HIV/AIDS Prevention 

 

STI & HIV/AIDS Prevention

203-574-6883

 

 

The Waterbury Health Department (WHD) is committed to providing comprehensive prevention and harm reduction services to the community. As part of a broader initiative funded through a partnership with Yale University and the Connecticut Department of Public Health, WHD focuses on reducing the spread of HIV, Hepatitis C (HCV), and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) while addressing opioid use and overdose prevention. WHD is dedicated to expanding these critical services throughout Waterbury and into neighboring communities like Meriden, where outreach is provided in collaboration with the local health department and the Salvation Army.

 HIV/AIDS Prevention Program Services

• Free, anonymous and confidential HIV Counseling, (OTL) Outreach, Testing and Linkage
  • Activities designed to increase a client’s knowledge of his/her HIV serostatus; to encourage and support risk reduction; to secure needed referrals for appropriate medical prevention; promote partner counseling; referral services linkage (PCRS); 20-minute Alere HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab Combo Finger Stick test result.
  • Community presentations on the following topics are available upon request: HIV/STI, Hepatits C, Harm and Risk Reduction, Overdose Prevention.

• Weekly Mobile Health Van Site Visits
  •  For weekly schedule, please call the Prevention Program at 203-574-6883.
• PrEP and PeP Education, Referral and Linkage
  •  PrEP is a daily pill that can protect you from HIV as long as you take it every day. Condoms provide additional protection against HIV, most sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy.
  • For more information: http://positivepreventionct.org/prep-span-pre-exposure-prophylaxis-span
• STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) Education, Screening and Linkage to Treatment
  •  Daily Screenings available, results in 5-7 days for:
    • Chlamydia
    • Gonorrhea
    • Hep C
    • Syphilis (Symptom screening & referral only)
  • For an appointment, please call the Prevention Program at 203-574-6883.
• Harm & Risk Reduction / Overdose Prevention, Referral and Linkage
  • For more information about naloxone education and distribution, call 203-574-6883.
• Home testing kits are available for HIV testing & results in 20 minutes in the privacy of the home.
  •  For more information, call the Prevention Program at 203-574-6883

• Syringe Services Program: Collaboration with StayWell Health Center and Apex Community Care to provide clean syringe exchanges, wound care, and referrals for medication-assisted treatment.

Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Getting to Zero CT

 

In 2017, the CT Department of Public Health DPH Commissioner appointed a 23 member commission – including Samuel F. Bowens III, Program Coordinator, Waterbury Health Department Prevention Program – to use a data-driven process to develop a statewide plan with city-specific recommendations on how to end the HIV epidemic in CT. 

ZERO HIV DEATHS. ZERO NEW INFECTIONS. ZERO STIGMA.

For more information: https://gettingtozeroct.org/

Did you know that?

 

• 1 in 880 White women, 1 in 132 White men and 1 in 11 White MSM will contract HIV in a lifetime.
• 1 in 227 Hispanic women, 1 in 48 Hispanic men and 1 in 4 Hispanic MSM will contract HIV in a life time.
• 1 in 48 Black women, 1 in 20 Black men and 1 in 2 Black MSM will contract HIV in a life time.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. GET TESTED AND TAKE CONTROL!

LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION

Explore Waterbury Resources | Waterbury Health Department (takecarewaterbury.com)

 

Black MSM (Men who have sex with Men) “Get Tested” Campaign

Additional Resources