Niagara County Department of Health announces reopening of sexual health clinic

The Niagara County Department of Health announced the sexual health clinic would reopen April 5. The clinic has been closed since March 2020 as a result of Niagara County’s COVID-19 response.

“Our sexual health clinic provides low-cost, comprehensive sexual health services, and we are pleased to reopen our doors to the community,” Public Health Director Daniel Stapleton said.

The clinic offers confidential testing, treatment and referrals for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for anyone 12 years of age and older (parental consent is not needed).

NCDOH will partner with Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, whose medical providers will work side by side with department clinical staff.

“This partnership supports our collective goal to help end the HIV epidemic, eliminate hepatitis B and C, and to successfully prevent and control sexually transmitted infections,” said Adrienne Kasbaum, NCDOH director of nursing.

Highlights of the partnership include:

√ Rapid HIV testing – Detect infection as early as 10 days from exposure. Results are ready in 20 minutes, and all it takes is a finger stick.

√ Rapid hepatitis C testing (HCV) – Results are ready in 20 minutes. Testing only requires a finger stick (same one can be used for both HIV and HCV).

√ Linkage to care – Partnership with community providers to provide follow-up services to anyone who does not have a physician and is HIV or hepatitis C positive.

√ Safe zone designation – The clinic is part of the network of visible allies for the LGBTQ community.

√ Partnership with NFMMC to provide PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for prevention of HIV.

√ Immunization consult for recommended vaccines, such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, human papilloma virus (HPV), Tdap and more.

“We are excited to partner with the Niagara County Department of Health to provide sexual health services to our community. This partnership will provide immediate access to testing and treatment for common sexually transmitted infections and also provide seamless transition of care to our ID (infectious disease) clinic for patients who need ongoing care of infections like hepatitis C and HIV,” said Dr. Rajinder Bajwa, chief of infectious disease at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, and medical director of the NCDOH sexual health clinic.

The clinic is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. No appointment is necessary.

For more information, contact the NCDOH nursing division at 716-278-1900, visit http://www.niagaracounty.com/health or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/niagaracountyhealth.