Today in Russell Union, Georgia Southern’s Gay Straight Alliance partnered with Care Inc. to provide free HIV screenings. Care Inc. is a nonprofit organization located in Jesup, Ga. Their main focus is HIV prevention and education. They provide housing programs for those affected by HIV and assistance with bills and disabilities.

Although their HIV testing is open to anyone in the Statesboro community, their main emphasis is on Georgia Southern students. Iman Johnson, HIV program manager, stressed that reaching out to the students is on of their a main goals.

The free screenings occur monthly, generally on the first Thursday of each month. The process is confidential and the tests are only 20 minutes, requiring a mouth swab. The only name requirement is for the consent form.

All information on the HIV status is sent to the Georgia Department of Public Health in Atlanta. The Department of Health is responsible for the funding for Care Inc., allowing them to provide these free screenings at Georgia Southern.