Free STI Testing Comes to Coimbra's Queima das Fitas Festival This Week
The Infectious Diseases Service at Coimbra's Local Health Unit (ULS) is operating a free testing tent at Praça da República through Monday evening, offering rapid screenings for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis during Europe's largest student festival.
What You Need to Know:
• Free, walk-in testing for four major sexually transmitted infections—no appointment required, no identification needed beyond basic health information
• Results delivered in minutes before you leave the tent
• Located at Praça da República in Coimbra's upper town, open through Monday, May 30
• Anyone testing positive receives a scheduled clinic appointment at ULS Coimbra before leaving
The initiative targets university students and young adults during Queima das Fitas, the week-long celebration marking the end of the academic year. According to Dr. Cristina Valente, director of the Infectious Diseases Service at ULS Coimbra, the timing is strategic. "It is essential that people test at least once in their lifetime for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis," she said. Testing requires only a single drop of blood.
Why This Campaign Exists
Portugal has experienced a significant increase in STI diagnoses in recent years. According to public health data, syphilis cases surged 140% between 2019 and 2023, while gonorrhea and chlamydia rates remain elevated across the country. Sexual transmission accounts for 97% of all HIV cases in Portugal, with the 25-29 age group showing the highest incidence rate.
Dr. Valente emphasized that many young people arrive at clinics with advanced-stage infections that could have been prevented through earlier testing. "For young people who are at the beginning of their lives, it is crucial to test early," she said.
Who Should Get Tested
Public health officials recommend that all sexually active individuals test at least once annually, regardless of perceived risk level. João Mota, a specialist with the Public Health Department at ULS Coimbra, noted that infections often stem from risk-taking people may have forgotten about years earlier.
Migrant communities face particular challenges accessing healthcare. According to recent data, approximately half of all STI notifications in certain Lisbon districts involve immigrants, reflecting barriers including limited healthcare access, language obstacles, and cultural stigma.
Why It Matters
Hepatitis C treatment now achieves cure rates above 97%, and early HIV diagnosis allows for antiretroviral therapy that can suppress viral loads to undetectable levels, preventing transmission. However, these outcomes depend on timely detection. More than half of new HIV cases in Portugal in 2024 were identified only after significant immune system damage had occurred.
By mid-afternoon on the campaign's second day, approximately 60 tests had been administered. Organizers aim to reach 200 screenings by Monday evening, according to Paulo Anjos, president of Associação Existências, a nonprofit focusing on health promotion among vulnerable populations in the Centro region.
The Bottom Line
If you live in or near Coimbra and have not been tested recently, the window closes Monday evening. The tent operates on a walk-in basis and requires no appointment. For those elsewhere in Portugal, similar campaigns have been organized by universities and health units in other cities, often timed around major events or awareness weeks.
