Peer Counselling
Information, Prevention & Testing Centre for HIV & STIs
in 2015, we established the Cy Checkpoint, through which we provide community-testing and peer-counselling for HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B (HBV), and Hepatitis C (HCV), as well as pre-test and post-test peer-counseling. These services are available for People living with HIV as well, especially if you need support in accessing the HIV healthcare system in Cyprus, which is separate from the General Health System (GESY). Antiretroviral treatment is free and accessible to all People Living with HIV in Cyprus, regardless if one has access to GESY, or not.
If you already know you are Living with HIV, you can use the services of the Cy Checkpoint to test for other STIs, receive peer-counselling regarding U=U (Undetectable equals Untransmittable), learn about the benefits of using antiretroviral treatment, and/or any other topic that you wish to discuss confidentially and in a safe environment. If you are not receiving treatment in Cyprus and wish to gain access to it through the HIV Reference Clinic, we can also help you to achieve this.
Testing is anonymous, rapid and free. It just takes 10 minutes for your results to be announced in a safe and discreet environment, while you get to be informed about safer sexual practices. Our test kits use finger blood, and react to antibodies of HIV/Syphilis/HBV/HCV with 99,7% sensitivity, covering all your life, apart from the last 3 months. The test we use was selected following the best practices from other checkpoints around Europe.
We also promote Combination Prevention, information on how you can enjoy sex in minimizing the risk of exposure to STIs, regardless of the sexual practices you prefer. We also provide information on harm reduction for people who use substances and/or in the context of Chemsex. You can also get free condoms and lubricants. :)
The Cy Checkpoint is a member of the COBATEST Network and the Mi-Health.
It is funded by various programmes, such as the AHF and CORE, and is supported by the Cyprus Ministry of Health and the Cyprus National Addictions Authority.
