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Planned Parenthood Mid and South Michigan (PPMSM) announced
it will offer free chlamydia testing and condoms at the inaugural Test Fest on
Saturday, September 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Old Town Marquee,
319 E. Grand River, Lansing, Mich. Lori Lamerand, president and chief executive
officer of PPMSM, stated that the event aims to destigmatize testing and
eliminate barriers to testing. The event will be the culmination of summer
programming that provided medically accurate sexual information, leadership
education, and civic engagement training for teens.
CDC reports that chlamydia is the most commonly reported
sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. Ingham County
chlamydia diagnoses increased from 1,562 cases in 2007 to 1,917 cases in 2011.
Although antibiotics could treat chlamydia, many people do not know they are
infected because it usually has no symptoms. Barrier methods, like condoms and
dental dams, are effective in preventing chlamydia transmission.
The Test Fest will feature a performance by Lansing
singer/songwriter Jen Sygit and carnival-like games. Event partners include
Gateway Community Services and the Sparrow Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
Program. The partners would welcome participation from other organizations and
businesses. Contact Amber Arb at (734) 926-5610 or amber.arb@ppmchoice.org for
more information or to donate prizes.
