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raising awareness

Turning Point and partners hosting free drop-in testing event

Nov 20, 2021 | 12:54 PM

Turning Point Society is teaming up with Shining Mountains Living Community Services and the Red Deer Queer Community Association for a drop-in STBBI testing event.

STBBI stands for Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infection, and includes conditions such as chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

The event takes place Nov. 26, as part of International Testing Week (Nov. 22-28), and will run from 11-3 at Urban Aboriginal Voices Society (5015 48 St. Unit 4, Red Deer).

“This is an opportunity for our organizations to generate greater awareness around Sexually Transmitted Blood-Borne Infection (STBBI), while also offering free STBBI testing, safer sex supplies, snacks, resources, and referrals,” a release states.

All COVID protocols will be in place.

“We also want to highlight that Shining Mountains will be hosting a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, December 1 to honour Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations impacted by HIV and AIDS,” it’s noted. “In addition to World AIDS Day taking place on December 1, Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week also takes place from December 1 to 5.”

For that event, they add, community members are encouraged to meet at Shining Mountains on Wednesday at 2:30 PM, departing collectively at 3 p.m. for Red Deer City Hall. Following a vigil, attendees can make their way to Urban Aboriginal Voices Society where a gathering with stew and bannock is happening. All COVID-19 protocols will again be in place.

More information is on Facebook.