Q Center collaborates on free health services | Binghamton News – Binghamton

When the global outbreak of mpox hit stateside in May 2022, the response from local and statewide health departments and other concerned agencies was swift.

First discovered in 1958 in Denmark, the mpox (formerly monkeypox) virus has steadily emerged in central, east and west Africa over the last 60 years. However, the 2022 outbreak of mpox appeared suddenly and spread rapidly throughout Europe and the United States; by August, cases had surfaced in all 50 states. Outside of Africa, the virus has primarily affected men who have sex with men, making this a public health crisis for the gay and bisexual community. However, mpox, like any virus, does not discriminate and this highly transmissible disease is a risk for anyone coming into contact with an infected person.

In October of that year, Binghamton Universitys Q Center partnered with the Broome County Health Department (BCHD) and the Southern Tier Aids Program (STAP) for an on-campus clinic to provide mpox vaccinations and safe sex and AIDS prevention education. STAP is the only non-profit organization serving the LGBTQ+ community in Broome County, so collaborations with the Q Center were mutually advantageous.

I had started reaching out to STAP and its Identity Youth Center staff in fall 2022 because we serve similar communities, said Nick Martin, assistant director at the Q Center. We have invited STAP several times to campus for tabling events. Several STAP staff members have attended Q Center events, including the Pride Flag Raising Ceremony in June and the Rainbow Fest during Fall Welcome Week. There is enormous value with these kinds of collaborations.

Established in 1984, STAP, originally an AIDS service organization, has evolved over the past few decades. Today, STAP provides an array of essential services, including a food pantry, housing assistance, care coordination, LGBTQ+ youth support, reentry services for individuals leaving prison or jail, Hepatitis C services, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, medical care and substance use treatment. Access to these services is not contingent on being HIV-positive.

Diagnosis and treatment for HIV/AIDS have radically changed since the 1980s due to the availability of antiretroviral therapy and the emergence of effective preventative measures such as pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP, which boasts a 99% efficacy rate in preventing HIV transmission. However, other sexually transmitted infections are on the rise.

Although there is some dispute about labeling mpox as an STI, sexual contact is currently the predominant mode of transmission in reported cases.

James Onyeike is the coordinator for STAPs Communities of Color initiative, conducting specialized testing and helping to empower communities at greater risk of HIV and STIs.

Thanks to advancements in modern medicine, our clients living with HIV/AIDS now enjoy long, healthy lives, said Onyeike. But to fully eradicate AIDS, prevention is more vital than ever and our proactive approach to testing ensures that individuals receive the care they need.

Haythi Ei 22, MPH 23, is a graduate of the Master of Public Health Program (MPH) at Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences and is passionate about promoting equity in healthcare. Ei was the mpox program manager for STAP from June to September 2023 through a New York State Department of Health grant. During that time, Ei organized vaccine clinics in partnership with local health departments and non-profit organizations and provided education and outreach to underserved populations, including rural, LGBTQ+ and communities of color.

I came across this job through the Decker student listserv, Ei said. I was finishing up my MPH and needed a job. Despite its short duration, I knew this would be a great stepping stone into the public health field.

The Q Center will team up with STAP and Decker Student Health Services for a second vaccination* and testing clinic in the Q Center Lounge from noon to 3:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 3. While the clinic will accept walk-ins for testing, appointments are highly encouraged.

A newly implemented online appointment system will make scheduling more accessible, allowing interested students to select a time that works for them. Contact STAP or the Q Center for a link to the online booking system.

Were working hard to ensure everyone has easy access and an overall good experience with our services, Onyeike said. Even if you cannot get an appointment that day, please come in and we will help you set up an appointment to get tested at our main location.

*Please note this is the second vaccination in the recommended series.

This past summer, Ei reached out to Martin to discuss a schedule of fall clinics as her grant-funded position was coming to a close. Broome County had available vaccines, so Ei coordinated with BCHD staff and Richard E. Moose, medical director at Decker Student Health Services, to discuss details and logistics. Decker Student Health Services came on board to help administer vaccinations.

We were interested in partnering with the Q Center to help provide vaccines to students, said Moose. We arranged to receive the vaccines from the county health department, and we provided registered nurses to give the vaccines.

For the fall 2023 clinics, Ei and Martin decided to expand offerings to include free STI/HIV testing for any campus community member, enlisting Onyeike to coordinate those services.

More than 100 students showed up to the Oct. 27 clinic. Student health services administered all 50 doses of the vaccine on hand, and STAPs prevention team conducted nine tests in total. However, demand far exceeded the supply, with more than 25 people on the testing waiting list.

This kind of turnout highlights the need for free testing in the University community, Ei said. Unfortunately, we had to turn away a lot of students, so I think we felt even more determined to provide additional testing and other resources and services to the University in the future.

In addition to clinics like this, the Q Center supports many other collaborative health initiatives to bring needed resources to the LGBTQ+ and other communities, specifically mental health services, through the University Counseling Center. Martin is also in consultation with the campus CARE (Consultation, Advocacy, Referral and Education) Team and Violence, Abuse, Rape Crisis Center (VARCC) to highlight those services to the students the center serves. The Q Center also has a peer mentorship program with a paid student staff to facilitate inclusion, self-expression and a sense of belonging.

I spoke with many of the students at the last clinic who had never been to the Q Center, Martin said, and a handful who did not identify within the LGBTQ+ community. For me, this illustrates just how important campus collaborations are and how they can improve the well-being and feelings of inclusivity and belonging for everyone across the entire campus community.

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Q Center collaborates on free health services | Binghamton News - Binghamton