HIV, STIs and STDs: Cegidd advises, screens and provides free referrals at Mende hospital

L'équipe du Cegidd, Perrine Lafont, Daniella Ruiz et Christelle Bergogne, et Valérie Paulhac qui manque sur la photo.. MIDI LIBRE – STEPHANIE BOULOIR

Prévention, dépistage et traitement : pour toutes les questions concernant les infections et maladies sexuellement transmissibles, le Cegidd est le bon interlocuteur.

The Lozère Hospital, Mende site, is home to Cegidd, a free information, screening and diagnosis center. This service is aimed at all people seeking information and testing for HIV, hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections.

Discretion

If it is located in the heart of the hospital, just behind the café area, you can go there directly, without going through the # 39;welcome. A way to facilitate and discreetly access it. Cegidd is made up of a doctor, Dr. Lydiane Lafont, two nurses and a dedicated secretary.

Anyone can have access to it, from 14 years old. Minors must be accompanied by an adult of their choice. Always in the interest of discretion, it is possible to request anonymity.

You can be screened for sexually transmitted diseases and infections (HIV, hepatitis A and B, chlamydia, syphilis, etc.) and obtain information, means of protection, such as condoms, etc. Screening, according to the ;STI sought, is done either by serology, therefore blood test, or by local sampling (urinary sample, vaginal self-sampling, etc.).

So when to come to Cegidd ? "When we consider that we have taken a risk, when we worry, or of course when you have symptoms", summarizes Dr. Lafont.

The importance of getting tested

The number one reason for concern remains HIV, the ravages of which we know. "It has not disappeared, there are new contaminations every year. Last year, 5,000 people in France discovered they were HIV positive", asks Dr. Lafont. But advances in medicine allow the majority today to be asymptomatic. "We can have HIV-positive people under treatment, Tasp, who have a non-detectable viral load, therefore who no longer transmit the virus.&amp ;quot;

We can also prevent contamination thanks to Prep, a protocol which can be useful within a couple where one is HIV positive, for example. And we can even avoid contamination after contact, thanks to TPE, post-exposure treatment. "In this case, we have 48 hours to go directly to the emergency room at Mende hospital", explains Daniella Ruiz, nurse at Cegidd. 

For all these questions, Cegidd welcomes all audiences without discrimination. It informs, screens, vaccinates, treats, advises, delivers emergency contraception, condoms, directs towards a specific consultation if necessary… And also organizes operations outside the walls to go to the meeting all audiences, particularly those furthest from care pathways. All this, in conjunction with local associations and structures.

Cegidd, Lozère Hospital, Mende site. Except for emergencies, it is preferable to make an appointment, Monday to Friday, at 04 66 49 88 75.