There is plenty of activity on a regular February day at Reden Aalborg. In the kitchen, volunteers are busy with the preliminary preparations for Jerusalem artichoke soup and bread baking. In the cozy living room, a woman is relaxing, and in the health clinic, nurse Julie Winther is having a consultation.

The Health Clinic and Kvindelancen – the outreach health initiative – were at risk of closing last year. But with public funds from Region North Jutland and a donation of 250,000 kroner from Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit og Kjeld, it has been possible to maintain the service.

– It gives us the opportunity to continue the efforts we know work. We are seeing an increasing number of women receiving health professional help at the clinic. We are also seeing more women getting assistance when we go out with Kvindelancen, says the director of Reden Aalborg, Jeanette Dam Kastrup.

The overarching ambition is to reduce the health inequality that affects people in social vulnerability. Together with a cultural worker who speaks either Spanish or Thai, Julie Winther visits brothels, shelters, and drop-in centers throughout North Jutland. Here, tests for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and tuberculosis are offered, as well as the distribution of contraception and health professional advice.

– We usually say that we come with hugs and condoms. Many experience great loneliness and need to meet someone who dares to look them in the eye and be present in the moment, says Julie Winther.

– Our health initiative is very broad. It covers everything from high blood pressure and diabetes to sexually transmitted diseases and advice on how to take care of oneself. And it means a lot that we can go out with our offers. Some cannot come here because they need to be available for the brothels and therefore cannot spend time on transport from, for example, Thisted to Aalborg, she continues.

The target group includes people who, due to various barriers, do not seek the healthcare system and treatment. Many have distrust of the healthcare system, face language challenges, and have a daily life characterized by mere survival, which means that diseases are discovered late. The outreach effort also serves as a bridge to general practitioners, hospitals, and other health services in Region North Jutland.

Nurse Julie Winther and director Jeanette Dam Kastrup are pleased that it is possible to maintain the outreach, preventive, and informative efforts at Reden Aalborg.

Co-founder of the foundation, Margit Andersen, is happy that it has been possible to continue the health professional efforts at Reden Aalborg. She believes it is important that health does not become a privilege for those who have surplus and resources.

– With the support for Reden, we want to help ensure that even people in difficult and chaotic life situations are met with dignity, professionalism, and real access to help, says Margit Andersen.

In 2024, 432 citizens used the services at Reden Aalborg. In 2025, the number was 507.

The health clinic in Burkina Faso was set to close in February 2022, but Fonden Det Nytter has since been able to cover the operating costs.

• Reden Aalborg is part of KFUK’s Social Work.
• Around 40 volunteers are part of Reden Aalborg – including a number of volunteer doctors.
• The project runs in 2026 and aims to reach 250–350 individuals in the target group, conduct around 500 tests for sexually transmitted diseases, and provide hundreds of health consultations and concrete health services.