University of Coimbra launches free screening campaign for sexually transmitted infections

"The night is not always a good advisor, but we are."
During the "Queima das Fitas" ["Burning of the Ribbons", the traditional students' festival], which kicks off today, this message is part of a screening campaign in Coimbra and other cities in the central region to raise awareness of the importance of early testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

The STI prevention and diagnosis campaign is an initiative of the University of Coimbra in partnership with the Coimbra City Council, the Coimbra Academic Association (AAC), and the Queima das Fitas organisation, with the support of MOP and JCDecaux.

The Proteção + [Protection +] screening programme, launched on the 10th of May, focuses on the detection of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and is free for the university community only. It includes testing for HIV, hepatitis A, B and C, syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and mycoplasma genitalium.

"The University of Coimbra thought that the academic festivities would be a good time to get this kind of information out to the public. With this health initiative, we want to play a preventive role and make students aware of the importance of preventing STIs," says UC Rector Amílcar Falcão.

The Proteção + [Protection +] screening programme, which focuses on the detection of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), is free for the university community only. It includes testing for HIV, hepatitis A, B and C, syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and mycoplasma genitalium.

The programme has already tested more than 350 students since November last year. After testing, the results are sent to the students, who can then be followed up by the University of Coimbra's health services. Once treatment is complete, the students are tested again.

The STI screening is carried out by LACUC (Clinical Analyses Laboratory of the University of Coimbra), a member of the European Test Finder Network (https://www.testfinder.info/), which brings together 772 laboratories in 44 countries dedicated to STI testing.

Created to raise awareness of the benefits of early testing for hepatitis and HIV, the European Test Finder promotes testing weeks every year, in May and October, to raise awareness and detect diseases.

Once diagnosed, most of these infections can be treated easily and effectively, making it possible to avoid complications that can have consequences such as infertility. On the other hand, early detection of these infections makes it possible to break the chains of transmission and prevent new cases.

"The aim of this programme, in addition to supporting the health of students at the University of Coimbra, is also to provide data on the epidemiology of these infections in our country, in order to help the competent authorities in the sector make decisions," says Ana Matos, head of the Proteção + programme.

_{Translation: Diana Taborda}