Anvil Mountain Correctional Center takes precautions against STDs

Anvil Mountain Correctional Center is two months into a new initiative to test inmates for sexually transmitted diseases, STDs for short.

According to the Alaska Department of Health, STDs are on the rise in Alaska. The Alaska Department of Health cited a 2021 National Surveillance report that showed Alaska ranking as the state with the highest rates of chlamydia in the country, the fourth highest for gonorrhea, and the eighth highest for “early (contagious) syphilis.”

In response to these increasing numbers, the Department of Corrections started offering “testing and treatment for a number of dangerous and deadly infectious diseases for all persons booked or housed in a state DOC facility,” according to Betsy Holley, the Public Information Officer of the Alaska Department of Corrections.

The initiative began on October 16 of this year, according to Holley.

Individuals who are booked or housed within the AMCC facility have the option to test for Syphilis, Hepatitis C, HIV, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. The program also offers vaccinations and immunity testing for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B.

“In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the spread of most of these diseases in Alaska,” said Holley. “Our program is part of a state-wide initiative, developed in collaboration with other state agencies and community health care organizations who are working to stop the rapid spread of these diseases in all our communities.”

The Alaska Department of Health recommends that “All sexually active individuals should be tested at least once for HIV. All sexually active women younger than 25 years should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year. Women 25 years and older with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners or a sex partner who has an STD should also be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year. All pregnant women should be tested for syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B starting early in pregnancy. At-risk pregnant women should also be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea starting early in pregnancy. Testing should be repeated in the third trimester and again at time of delivery, or as needed to protect the health of mothers and their infants. All sexually active gay and bisexual men should be tested at least once a year for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Those who have multiple or anonymous partners should be tested more frequently for STDs (i.e., at 3-to-6-month intervals), once a year for HIV, and for Hepatitis C if living with HIV.”