Free HIV testing will no longer be provided at the health clinics on the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses. The HIV screenings were previously funded by a grant provided by the School of Medicine.
UTRGV Radio News spoke with director of health services, Rick Gray and he tells us why the HIV testing is no longer provided for free by the School of Medicine.
[su_quote]“We have gotten them to offer the services in our clinic since they had their own grant funding, their own staff. I mean they were free for students, and when their grant ran out, they didn’t continue doing it.”
-Rick Gray, Director of Health Services[/su_quote]
Gray tells UTRGV Radio News they are trying to get the Valley AIDS Council to come back to the health clinics on campus.
[su_quote]”We had a [Memorandum of Understanding] with Valley AIDS Council that one day out of the week they sent a counselor to our clinics and did they same thing. They were grant funded and did the screenings free and met with the students individually.”
-Rick Gray, Director of Health Services[/su_quote]
Gray tells us what the students liked about the grant and the Valley AIDS Council.
[su_quote]”It is totally anonymous to the university. It’s not in any of our records, and Valley AIDS Council are certified counselors under the state of Texas guidelines.”
-Rick Gray, Director of Health Services[/su_quote]
Gray tells UTRGV Radio News that HIV testing will remain available at the clinics and the screening will cost $26.00. For more information you can call the health clinic at (956) 665-2511.
