Due to popular demand, the Whistler SAFE (Sexual Awareness For Everyone) Clinic is opening its doors for an extra day each week.
Now, in addition to the clinic held on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., there will be a clinic on Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Coast Garibaldi Healthy Unit of the Whistler Health Care Centre.
"Once the mountain workers started to come in we became extremely busy," says SAFE clinic supervisor Marnie Simon. "In the beginning we thought five to 10 people in a night was good, but now we are seeing at least 40 people every week."
Not only will the Thursday clinic reduce the lines on Tuesdays, it will help SAFE to accommodate an increased number of visitors and facilitate special programs in the community.
"We don't get a lot of visitors from high school, for instance," says Simon. "They're not attending the clinic, but we know they could use our support. We are encouraging them to become involved and are setting up a website for the teens who may not want to come in."
Services offered include free HIV and STD testing and treatment, birth control counselling and supplies at a reduced cost, and pregnancy counselling. A doctor is available, as well as trained nurses and counsellors.
