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Caldwell County health educators outline family planning, STD testing and cancer-screening options
Summary
Health educators from the Caldwell County Health Department described confidential, income-based family planning and STD services and a breast and cervical cancer screening program that offers low- or no-cost testing and follow-up for eligible women.
Tyler Wunderlich, a health educator at the Caldwell County Health Department, said the county clinic offers a full range of confidential family planning services for people of all ages, including contraceptive options (pills, injections and IUDs), pregnancy testing and counseling, maternal services and preconception education. "We're here to support your reproductive health needs," Wunderlich said.
Wunderlich said the clinic conducts reproductive health screenings and provides emergency contraception, healthy-relationship education and treatment for STDs when needed. He emphasized that services are confidential and offered on a sliding-scale fee based on income rather than a set rate; he said the department accepts most health insurance plans.
Bridal Flanagan, a public health educator at the department, described quick, confidential testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and said many infections have no symptoms so early testing is important. "It's simple, confidential, and often free or low-cost," Flanagan said. She added the clinic provides treatment, prevention education, follow-up support and free condoms available without an appointment.
Wunderlich also described the department's breast and cervical cancer screening program (referred to in the presentation as "BCEP" and also mentioned as "VSIP"), saying it provides breast exams, mammograms when indicated, Pap tests, pelvic exams and follow-up diagnostic help for women who meet income and age eligibility. He said the program typically serves women ages 40 to 64 but that younger women with symptoms or higher clinical risk may qualify through referral. Funding sources and program funding details were not specified in the presentation.
For appointments or more information about family planning, STD testing or cancer screenings, Wunderlich said callers should contact the Caldwell County Health Department; he also noted that staff can explain eligibility and available supports.
