St. John’s Antigua- The Antigua Planned Parenthood Association has added paternity and Chlamydia testing to its range of services.

The association’s executive director, Lindale Weaver-Greenaway said the new services, which began this month at the organisation, are offered at more affordable rates.

“We know that it is needed. People have always (asked for us to offer DNA testing) because it is much more expensive in the private lab (especially for the) poor to middle class people in society and so we’re trying to do it at a cost that is more reasonable so people who really need the service can afford it,” she told The Daily OBSERVER.

Paternity testing at Planned Parenthood is $695 if one is testing on one’s own accord and $895 if it’s being done upon the court’s request, she said.

“If you want to make sure that the child is yours, we do the test … in conjunction with Caribbean Detectives Agency and it is sent to Iowa and the results usually come back in two weeks,” she added.

Antigua Planned Parenthood Association, which will be celebrating 40 years of service to the public next month, offers several other services to promote sexual and reproductive health. It provides contraceptives, including injections, IUD, condoms (male and female). It also conducts Pap smears, pregnancy and HIV testing.

“We do lectures in schools on invitation, where we talk to the kids about sexual reproductive health,” Weaver-Greenaway said. “Any community group that is having anything community-wise and they want us to be a part of it, we go and give sexual reproductive health information to include family planning.”

Meantime the Bishopgate Street-based organisation is planning a week of activities to mark its 40^th anniversary, to include a church service, awards dinner and panel discussion.