Sacramento clinic offering free STD and HIV tests as California confronts rising infections

As California addresses a resurgence of sexually transmitted infections, a Sacramento clinic is launching a four-year initiative to provide free testing with same-day results.

According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), California ranked the highest in the nation for the number of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis cases reported in 2019.

Since 1982, Sunburst Projects have provided support for men, women, and children affected by HIV and AIDS. Their hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

At the Sunburst Clinic, a walk-in clinic located at 2143 Hurley Way Suite 240, the organization offers free testing and same-day test results within 20 minutes and no appointment is needed.

It’s receiving funding through the CDC’s ‘Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S’ initiative-funded, which steers resources to local efforts to achieve health equity.

Jake Bradley-Rowe, the executive director at Sunburst Projects said knowing your HIV status put you in charge of your health and that anyone that is sexually active should get regularly tested.

“I think it’s our responsibility as adults to take time to take care of our health,” said Bradley-Rowe. “The biggest thing you can do, for your own power within your own health and your life, is to take a simple 20 minute test.”

According to California’s Office of AIDS, Sacramento County sees nearly 160 new HIV diagnoses per year and certain communities are disproportionately affected.

This includes: men who have sex with men, people of color, transitional age youth (under 24), and other sub-groups, such substantial risk heterosexuals, substantial risk transgender people, and people who inject drugs.

The CDC recommends everyone between the ages 13 and 64, be tested for HIV, at least once.

Children ages 12 and up can be tested at Sunburst Clinic without parental consent.

The Sacramento nonprofit organization will provide free and confidential HIV and STD testing to anyone, regardless of health insurance.

For more information visit www.sunburstclinic.org.

This story was originally published March 4, 2022 at 3:30 AM.