A grant for the Chlamydia Screening Education and Treatment project ends in May nolonger permitting the CSUS Health Center to provide free chlamydia screening and treatment for students.

Prior to the grant, chlamydia screening and testing was available to students for a nominal fee. The majority of the cost was covered by fees paid as part of enrollment.

The California Endowment, the state’s largest health foundation, awarded the two year grant in the fall of 2000, covering screening and treatment costs.

“Since the project began we have served over 3500 students,” director of health education Laurie Bisset Grady said, “by the end of the project we anticipate having served 4000.”

CSET provides free chlamydia screening, education, and treatment to students enrolled at Sac State and American River, Consumnes River, and Sacramento City Community Colleges. The project is designed to study the prevalence of sexual behavior, chlamydia, and risk factors among college students. CSET focuses on early identification by educating students on the symptoms and risks of chlamydia if left untreated.

“The reason why we are focusing on college students is because individuals may be sexually active and may not be using safe sex practices, students may not experience symptoms and may not have access to health care,” Grady said, “in some, chlamydia is an a-symptomatic disease, and if left untreated may cause major health problems, even infertility.”

Come May 10, the Health Center will revert back to the old process of charging students for the services. According to Grady, the same screening services outside of campus cost around $50, evidence of the Health Center’s affordability and convenience.

For another two months chlamydia screening and treatment is free. Information on the CSET project is available at www.csus.edu/hlth/CSET. For times of operation call 278-5422.

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