Georgia Coastal Health District

Health departments in the Coastal Health District are offering free testing events for sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, during STI Awareness Month in April.

STI testing is always available without an appointment during clinic hours at health departments in coastal Georgia. But during these special events, STI testing will be offered at no cost. A full list of free STI testing events is at the bottom of this page.

One in five people in the U.S. has an STI. Many infections don’t have obvious symptoms at first, but if left untreated, they can cause severe, long-term health problems and spread to partners.

STI testing is important for anyone who is sexually active, including adolescents, adults, and pregnant women.  STIs can cause serious health problems for pregnant moms and can be passed to their unborn babies.

The good news is, all STIs can be treated, and most can be cured. Routine STI testing can help individuals get treatment early, protect their health, and have open, informed conversations with partners. Testing is quick, confidential, and often easier than people expect.

In 2024, more than 2.2 million STIs were reported across the United States. Overall, rates have declined in recent years but are still much higher than STI rates of a decade ago, reinforcing the need to continue prioritizing STI prevention, testing, and treatment.

Free STI Testing Events in the Coastal Health District

Bryan County

• April 22, 8-11am and 1-4pm, 430 Ledford St., Pembroke
  Appointments preferred but not required
  
• April 14, 8-11am and 1-4pm, 66 Capt. Matthew Freeman Dr., Richmond Hill
  Appointments preferred but not required

Camden County

• April 16, 8am-12pm and 1-5:30pm, 101 Winding Rd., Kingsland
  Appointments preferred but not required

Chatham County

• April 13-17, 8-11am and 1-4pm, Mon. through Thurs., 8a-1p on Friday
  1395 Eisenhower Dr. & 1602 Drayton St., Savannah
  No appointment needed

Effingham County

• April 13-17, 8-11am and 1-4pm, Mon. through Thurs., 8a-12p on Friday
  802 Hwy. 119 South, Springfield
  Appointments preferred but not required

Glynn County

• April 16, 8am-12pm and 1-5pm, 2747 Fourth St., Brunswick
  No appointment needed

Liberty County

• April 13-17, 8-11am and 1-4pm, Mon. through Thurs., 8a-12p on Friday
  1113 East Oglethorpe Hwy., Hinesville
  Appointments preferred but not required

Long County

• April 20-24, 8-11am and 1-4pm, Mon. through Thurs., 8a-12p on Friday
  584 N. Macon St., Ludowici
  Appointments preferred but not required

McIntosh County

• April 14, 8-11am and 1-4pm, 1335 GA Hwy 57, Townsend
  Appointments preferred but not required

The Coastal Health District is warning individuals and businesses after receiving a report that an unknown person falsely claimed to be a health inspector and threatened to close a Glynn County restaurant. The restaurant manager reported the incident to the Glynn County Health Department on Monday, Feb. 10, stating that the encounter occurred over the weekend with an angry patron who made the false claim.

Because the individual did not ask for money or favors, law enforcement was not involved. However, the Coastal Health District is sharing the following information to help protect individuals and businesses from potential fraudulent encounters.

“We take incidents like this very seriously, because we take integrity and professionalism seriously,” said Environmental Health Director Brant Phelps. “This is a good opportunity to let folks know what to expect from our health inspectors and how to recognize suspicious behavior.”

County health inspectors:

• Carry official identification cards. Businesses may ask to see the inspector’s ID and may call the county environmental health office to verify credentials.
• Never accept money in the field. Fees for permits and other environmental health services are paid directly to the health department and are never collected in cash.

If the behavior of someone claiming to be a health inspector seems suspicious, contact the county environmental health office to verify their identity. Never pay for environmental health services in cash or directly to an individual in the field.