Tag: stis

Love Safely This Valentine’s Day

February 9, 2026
Media Contact: Dr. Zelalem Attlee, Zelalem.Attlee@vdh.virginia.gov.

Love Safely This Valentine’s Day
Get Free Condoms from the Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District

WARRENTON, Va. – It’s no coincidence that Valentine’s Day is also National Condom Day! One of the simplest ways to show you care is to protect the health of those you love. The Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District provides free condoms to support safer and healthier sexual relationships.

Valentine’s Day is often associated with flowers, chocolates, and dinner dates. The Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District reminds you that protection should also be part of the plan.

“Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate connection and care,” said Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District Director J. Carr, M.D. “Loving safely means protecting yourself and your partner, and free condoms are one simple way to support healthy relationships and prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections.”

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) remain a serious public health concern in Virginia.  More than 54,000 STIs were reported in Virginia in 2024.  The increase in syphilis diagnoses among women is of particular concern. The rate of newly diagnosed syphilis cases among women increased 144% from 2020 to 2024.

Cases of congenital syphilis, when a pregnant person passes syphilis to a baby during pregnancy or childbirth, increased for the fifth straight year in Virginia. In 2024, 35 cases of congenital syphilis were reported among newly born infants, the highest case count observed in more than 30 years in Virginia.

Because many STIs, including syphilis, often show no symptoms, you can spread them without knowing it. Using condoms consistently and correctly is an effective way to reduce the risk of STIs and unintended pregnancy.

The Virginia Department of Health distributes condoms statewide through its Condom Distribution Program, which is designed to reduce HIV and other STIs through free access to protection.

Free condoms are available at the Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District and through community partner organizations. You can contact the Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District at www.rrhd.org to locate free condoms nearby.

Organizations interested in becoming distribution sites should contact the HIV-STD Hotline Supervisor at HIV-stdhotline@vdh.virginia.gov. Participating organizations may order up to 100,000 condoms per year.

The Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District can also help you decide if medicine to prevent HIV (PrEP) or STIs (DoxyPEP) is right for you.

Make this Valentine’s Day a night to remember, not a diagnosis you want to forget.

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Central Shenandoah Health District to Host Free Monthly STI Test & Go Clinics

Posted on by lindascarborough

May 22, 2025
Media Contact: Rachel Dumene, rachel.dumene1@vdh.virginia.gov, 540-480-4998

Central Shenandoah Health District to Host Free Monthly STI Test & Go Clinics

LEXINGTON, Va. – The Central Shenandoah Health District (CSHD) is announcing new free monthly Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing in the Lexington/Buena Vista area starting this May. These pop-up clinics are being offered in partnership with the Rockbridge Recovery Group Center (RRGC) in Buena Vista and Rockbridge Area Community Services (RACS) in Lexington.

These Test & Go clinics are intended to provide convenient access to healthcare within our community and are available to the public. CSHD’s newly refurbished mobile unit will be used to provide STI testing free of cost to participants. No insurance, identification, or payment is required. These clinics will be offered on a first-come first-served basis with no appointment needed.

The clinic will offer testing for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, & Syphilis. Patients who need treatment will be connected to healthcare providers for follow up care.

“Test & Go clinics are a great resource for any individual who is sexually active and needs access to STI testing,” says Allison Baroco MD, infectious diseases physician and interim health director for the Central Shenandoah Health District. “Rates of STIs have increased significantly in the past several years in Virginia and nationally, so it is more important than ever to know your status. Those with positive test results will be connected to counseling on treatment.”

The clinic schedule is listed below:

  • May 30, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, at Rockbridge Area Community Services, 241 Greenhouse Rd., Lexington, VA 24450
  • June 18, 3:30 – 5:30 pm, at the Rockbridge Recovery Group Center, at 119 E. 28th St., Buena Vista, VA 24416.
  • Every third Thursday of the month beginning in July, 3:30 – 5:30 pm, at the Rockbridge Recovery Group Center, at 119 E. 28th St., Buena Vista, VA 24416.

Routine STI testing and treatment is available at the Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro Health Department locations. Appointments for routine testing and treatment are required. Call your local health department to make an appointment.

More information about Test & Go clinics and routine STI testing and treatment can be found on the Central Shenandoah Health District website at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/central-shenandoah/health-services/sexually-transmitted-infections/.

For more information, you may call (540) 463-3185, or email cshdinfo@vdh.virginia.gov. For the latest schedule, check out our Facebook page @CentralShenandoahHealthDistrict.

Central Shenandoah Health District Announces New Walk-In STI Testing at the Harrisonburg Rockingham Health Department

February 14, 2024
Media Contact: Linda Scarborough, Western Region PIO
linda.scarborough@vdh.virginia.gov

Central Shenandoah Health District Announces New Walk-In STI Testing at the Harrisonburg Rockingham Health Department

(Staunton, Va.) — Beginning February 20, the Central Shenandoah Health District will offer Test & Go clinics at the Harrisonburg Rockingham Health Department every third Tuesday of the month. Test & Go clinics offer after-hours walk-in testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) once a month. Individuals can receive free testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV at these clinics. Testing is available to everyone at no cost. Patients can expect to be in and out of the clinic in 15 minutes or less.

Dates and times for the Harrisonburg Rockingham Health Department Test & Go Clinics are below:

  • February 20, 4:30 – 6 p.m.
  • March 19, 4:30 – 6 p.m.
  • April 16, 4:30 – 6 p.m.
  • May 21, 4:30 – 6 p.m.

Walk-in appointments are available on a first-come-first-served basis. The earlier the arrival, the better the chance a patient will secure a testing spot. Patients will be accepted until 6 p.m. or until 10 testing spots are taken, whichever comes first. Individuals are encouraged to arrive by 5:30 p.m. to secure a testing spot. Individuals who receive a positive test result will be contacted by health department staff to get connected to treatment options.

“The Harrisonburg Rockingham Health Department Test & Go clinics are a great resource for any individual who is sexually active and needs access to STI testing,” says Elaine Perry, acting health director for the Central Shenandoah Health District. “Rates of STIs have increased significantly in the past several years in Virginia and nationally, so it is more important than ever to know your status.” It is recommended that anyone who has been exposed to an STI or has symptoms seek STI testing.

Routine STI testing and treatment is available at the Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro Health Department locations. Appointments for routine testing and treatment are required. Call your local health department to make an appointment.

More information about Test & Go clinics and routine STI testing and treatment can be found on the Central Shenandoah Health District website at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/central-shenandoah/health-services/sexually-transmitted-infections/.