The pilot scheme, called The Red Door Project, was established as a community-based testing centre for the North East, in connection with the HSE and HIV Ireland. The significant number of attendees availing of this service, which ran from July 2016 to March 2017, led to the decision to establish a more permanent clinic.

According to Dr Dominic Rowley, who is interviewed in last month’s issue of GCN, Ireland’s MSM community (men who have sex with men, but don’t necessarily identify as members of the LGBT community) are current the middle of an epidemic of all sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

“Syphilis and HIV love to co-infect at the same time, so many people present with both,” said Rowley. “There’s a Gonorrhea epidemic too. There’s no one simple answer to why HIV infections are going up so much.”

So, word of the availability of more screening services is welcome news to sexual health advocates.

The Red Door Project/ HIV Ireland screening will place on the 3rd Wednesday of every month. Doors open at 1:30 pm until 3:30 pm and no appointment is necessary. Testing is done for HIV, Hepatitis, Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea.

All testing is free, no appointment is neccesary and results are given within a two-week time frame.

The Red Door Project, St Mary’s Convent Schooll Dublin Road, Drogheda, Co. Louth (Opposite Scotch Hall Car Park). Every 3^rd Wednesday of the month, doors 1.30 – 3.30pm. Call: (041) 980 4957/ (086) 783 1162