Ozarks community organization's first 'Test Fest' aims to destigmatize STD testing
The Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation is hosting its first "Test Fest" Sept. 30, aiming to destigmatize testing for sexually transmitted diseases and make the tests available to everyone.
Test Fest will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30, at the OACAC main office, 215 S. Barnes St. Appointments are encouraged and can be made by calling 417-864-3410. Walk-ins will be accepted until all openings have been filled.
More: Syphilis cases in Greene County increased 12-fold since 2015, health department says
In addition to STD testing, OACAC will offer reproductive health care exams and birth control, including condoms. According to OACAC's Family Planning Clinic Facebook page, period products and socks will also be offered. The first 100 people at the clinic will receive free lunch.
OACAC is an organization that aims to identify causes of poverty and to alleviate its impact in the Ozarks area. It does that by offering resources for things like housing assistance, emergency services, life skills classes — and family planning.
"We want people in the community to know that we provide services for birth control, we provide services for STI testing for both male and female," said Aimee Adams, OACAC's nurse practitioner. "A lot of people don’t understand that men can come (to OACAC) as well."
The event is open to people of all genders. Adams explained that OACAC's clinic strives to be welcoming.
More: 'Prevention is always better than treatment': Ozarks health experts on seasonal shots
"In this environment, it’s not as intimidating. Sometimes people feel like they have to wait a long period of time or there’s too much congestion in certain areas," Adams said. "We’re a smaller clinic where there’s not a big wait time."
Patients can seek care at OACAC's clinic regardless of insurance status, as OACAC accepts insurance, Medicaid and sliding scale payments. The main focus, Adams said, is giving everyone who comes through their doors quality care.
"It doesn’t matter who they are, we’re going to give them good quality care and we’re going to treat them just as good as we can," Adams said. "We want to make them feel that we are important to us, because they are. They’re special.”
Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: OACAC wants to destigmatize STD testing with its first 'Test Fest'
