What is Safe Steps?

The goal of the Whitefoord Safe Steps for Prevention Program is to raise awareness about HIV prevention, promote early detection of HIV , and prevent the spread of HIV in our communities. Additionally, we aim to promote awareness of STD prevention and foster early detection of infections. The SSP program will empower individuals to take charge of their health, strengthen our community, and combat the stigma associated with HIV. We will provide easier access to HIV testing, prevention supplies, as well as HIV prevention medication.

By offering our services and educating our patients, we hope to become a crucial part of the movement to eliminate HIV in our community.

Our Services

Our services include :

· PrEP ( Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)

· PEP ( Post- Exposure Prophylaxis)

· FREE Rapid Walk-in HIV Testing

· FREE at- home HIV test

· FREE Full Panel STD Testing

· FREE Rapid Bacterial Vaginosis Testing (BV)

· FREE Plan B

· FREE Condoms

· HIV Prevention Education

· Linkage to Care

Contact Us

FAQs

What is HIV?

HIV is a virus that weakens the immune system, making the body susceptible to various infections and diseases.

You can only contract HIV by coming into direct contact with certain bodily fluids from a person with HIV.

These fluids include:

Blood
Semen and pre-seminal fluid
Rectal fluids
Vaginal fluids
Breast milk

Currently there is no cure for HIV, and if the virus is not detected early, it can progress to AIDS.

Effective HIV treatment, called antiretroviral therapy, can reduce the HIV levels in the blood when taken as prescribed.

What is PrEP?

This medication is to be taken before being potentially exposed to prevent becoming infected with HIV. When taken as prescribed on a daily basis, PrEP is highly effective in preventing HIV transmission.

You can take PrEP if:

You have unprotected anal, oral, or vaginal sex
You have been prescribed PEP and you continue to report risky behavior
You are unsure of your partner’s sexual activity
You have been diagnosed with an STD in the past 6 months
You do not consistently use condoms
You inject drugs and share needles or other drug injection equipment
You would like to protect yourself from contracting HIV

What is PEP?

This medication is to be taken after being potentially exposed to HIV to prevent becoming infected. This medication is for emergency use, it is not for routine prevention in those frequently exposed and does not replace regular HIV prevention methods.

Examples:

You have been potentially exposed to HIV within 72 hours (such as due to a condom break).
You do not currently test positive for HIV.
You have engaged in needle-sharing or using shared equipment for drug injection.
You have experienced sexual assault.