Since January 1, 2016, the CDAG (anonymous and free screening centers) and the CIDDIST (information, screening and diagnostic centers for sexually transmitted infections) have disappeared. They have been replaced by CeGIDD (Free Center for Information, Screening and Diagnosis of Infections by Human Immunodeficiency Viruses, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections).
“Compared to 2019, we recorded a 60% drop in our activity, admits Doctor Philippe Muller, who works in CeGIDD at CHR Metz-Thionville. However, government directives encourage us to maintain our services and to welcome the public, but only by appointment ”. Successive confinements are not unrelated to this tumble. “We no longer go out, so we no longer meet people, however, we have to be careful. »In the viewfinder of the healthcare professional HIV, a virus that appeared in the United States in the 1970s, but also hepatitis A, B, C and other STIs (syphilis, chlamydia, gonococcus).
–
Anonymous, free and confidential
“We welcome everyone, even minors. Blood tests and samples are taken on site. »The results are communicated during a second meeting. “Our deadline is one week due to the Covid. In case of doubt, spots, wart or other symptoms, do not hesitate to come. Screening is reliable when the risk report is more than six weeks old, ”recalls Carinne Vorkaufer, senior manager. Among the people who open the doors of the centers, two thirds are men, “We also see couples, or women victims of rape. We have a psychologist who can take them. Here, we do not judge anyone and everything remains confidential. “
–
Prevention in schools
People who want to be tested for free for HIV, hepatitis and STIs can go to at Bel-Air Thionville, at Mercy, at Maillot Briey, or at the Mont-Saint-Martin hospital. “You can also go to a laboratory on medical prescription,” adds Dr. Muller.
Usually, CeGIDD teams do prevention in schools, but also in prisons. “The health situation is a drag, but we want to resume quickly, because even if treatments exist and work, we must know that some STDs cannot be cured. “
–
