Confidential HIV Testing at NARH

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — HIV testing will be offered at North Adams Regional Hospital on Thursday, Aug. 5, and Thursday, Aug. 19, at 1 p.m. The service is offered on the first and third Thursdays of each month, and appointments are required. Those wishing to be tested should call 413-447-2654 to make an appointment.

The HIV testing clinic is conducted in Suite 210 of the Ambulatory Care Center (the doctors’ office building) on the campus of NARH. Testing is confidential and can be anonymous. Testing is available at no cost, although donations are appreciated. Clients must return in person to receive the results of testing, as they cannot be given over the phone or by mail.

The program targets high-risk individuals including injection drug users and their sexual partners, men who are having unsafe sex with other men, heterosexual individuals who are having unsafe sex with multiple partners, the sex partners of bisexual men, and individuals who are having sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The program offers several other services as well. Testing for sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea and chlamydia, is available free of charge although third-party payments are accepted, as are donations. Additional STD testing is available on a fee for service basis. Herpes serology testing to determine if an individual is infected with Herpes 2 is available at a cost of $21; most third party payors cover this testing. Hepatitis C testing is available for $20; third party payors will usually cover this cost. Hepatitis A and B vaccine is available for at risk individuals at no cost.

Jacqueline Roy-Elliott, BSN, RN, director of the State Clinics at Berkshire Medical Center, will provide services. For more information one may call the clinic office at 413-447-2654.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Companion Corner Grey Boy at No Paws Left Behind

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's a cat No Paws Left Behind still waiting for his forever home.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home. He was previously highlighted but he now has new information.

Grey Boy is 10 years old and is a gray and white domestic shorthair and was previously highlighted on Companion Corner.

The shelter's Executive Director Noelle Howland introduced us to him and his long journey to be ready for adoption.

"He's been here a couple months. He was a transfer from a rescue in Bennington. They were out of space, so we had taken him in with a few other cats. So he's been here a couple months. He came in with what we believed was a respiratory infection," she said. "So it took us a little bit to get him ready, and then he also needed a dental. So he has nice, clean teeth. He had some teeth removed, and then he has to go back in and have one more dental. So he'll be all ready to go."

It was previously thought that he has feline herpes but he was recently diagnosed with a palette fracture because of how bad his dental disease was, which is what is causing his sneezing. He can now go home with cats, a cat-savvy dog and children.

"He has had two dentals since being with us. Due to the palate fracture he will be sneezy for the rest of his life, not contagious sneezing, but that doesn’t stop him from living a perfectly happy life. He should be on wet food with chunks due to this and since he has had many teeth removed," Howland said.

Grey Boy loves to play with toys and enjoy treats. He would also love to have a window to lounge or bird-watch in.

"He is not afraid of anything. He's very curious, so I'm sure he'd love if you have windows for him to look out of. He still plays, even though he's 10 it does not stop him. So any home would be a good fit for him."

Now that he is ready to be adopted, he is excited. When you walk into the room with him he will rub up against your leg introducing himself and asking to be pet.

"Usually, I would say, when you're walking, he'll bonk into you so he might catch you off guard a little bit. He constantly is rubbing against you," Howland said. "He really, I would say he's lazy when you want him to be, and he's active when you want him to be. He'll play with toys. He's usually lounging away. And then when he comes out he'll play. He loves it. So, very friendly, easy going cat."

He is now perfectly healthy with his dentals all done and veterinary care up to date and is ready to find his forever family.

"I would say the friendliest, easiest cat you could have. He's just, he's just gonna be a little sneezy sometimes, but that doesn't stop him from doing anything," she said.

Grey Boy's adoption fee is sponsored by Rooted in Balance Counseling LLC.

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