Sexual health clinic services continue to be available in St. Catharines

Niagara, ON: Beginning Sept. 2, clients of the Mediklik sexual health clinic at the St. Catharines General Site of the Niagara Health System (NHS) will be directed to Niagara Region Public Health's Sexual Health Centres and other accessible medical walk-in services.

The Mediklik clinic is open four hours per week and provides assessment and treatment services for sexually-transmitted infections/diseases. St. Catharines General is the only NHS site that offers these services, and as of Sept. 2, the services will be discontinued. Client visits to Mediklik have declined over the past five years, with just over 1,500 visits last year to the clinic.

"Public Health departments across Ontario have been providing this service for a number of years," says Patricia Morka, NHS Health Program Director. "We know our health-care partners at Niagara Region Public Health will provide this client group with the same sensitive, responsive care they provide at their other clinics across the region."

Niagara Region Public Health operates Sexual Health Clinics throughout the region. The Sexual Health Clinic on Welland Avenue, between Niagara and Vine Streets, is just a few blocks from St. Catharines General Site, so the walk-in client base will continue to have convenient access to the service, as well as longer hours. Information is being provided to Mediklik clients over the summer months to ensure they are informed about going to the right place for their next visit.

Services provided at the Sexual Health Centre include sexually-transmitted infections testing and treatment, pregnancy testing, contraception counseling, emergency contraception, and birth control at a reduced price.