Free screenings, tests from health services available year-round

By Rhiannon Saegert/Managing Editor  

Students can go to a campus health services office for more than cough drops and aspirin.

Health services offers over-the-counter medications, treatment for minor illnesses and injuries and referrals to health care providers during the semester.

Each office also organizes health fairs on each campus. Students who attend the fairs can donate blood, register to donate bone marrow and take advantage of free cancer screenings. 

“We’ll also have glucose testing, cholesterol monitoring, vision testing and things like that,” NE health services coordinator Patricia Marling said.

NE Campus’ fair will be Oct. 9, and TR Campus’ fair will be Sept. 24. SE Campus’ fair will be Sept. 4 and 18. South Campus has its fair the first Wednesday of April. NW Campus will have its fair sometime during the spring.

Free HIV and syphilis testing is available at each campus at least once a month.

“We all have different dates set during the semester,” NW health services coordinator Thoy Fongsamouth said.

Students need to call ahead and set up a time for the confidential tests.

“SE Campus will have HIV testing on Oct. 23,” SE health services coordinator Elizabeth Lowry said.

South will offer testing Sept. 18, Sept. 24, Oct. 17 and Nov. 14. NE will offer testing Sept. 4, Oct. 9, Nov. 6 and Dec. 4. NW will offer its testing Sept. 18, Oct. 16, Nov. 13 and Dec. 4. TR offers tests every first Tuesday, fourth Wednesday and fourth Thursday of each month.