Two fraternal organizations, Omega Psi Phi and Alpha Phi Alpha, at Jackson State University recently sponsored a forum on campus detailing the basics of HIV and STDs.
"More education needs to be done, especially with African-American adolescents at an earlier state of their development," said Christopher Rovy, project coordinator at My Brother's Keeper and one of the speakers at the event. MBK focuses on enhancing health in minority communities.
The forum also featured a speaker from Students Involved in Prevention (SIP), a project of the Real AIDS Prevention Project, which offers prevention outreach to heterosexual women.
Participants played a game that illustrated how easily HIV can be spread and an icebreaker to teach HIV conversation strategies. "Nowadays a lot of people engage in sexual activities, but don't know how to talk about it," said SIP health educator Adrianne Myers.
Students saw slideshows of STDs and learned how to use male and female condoms. Both types of condoms were distributed at the event.
Speakers stressed the disproportionate impact of HIV on African Americans. About 45 percent of persons living with HIV and 46 percent of new cases are African American, according to SIP.
"I hope more students were encouraged to know their HIV status, and second of all, I hope they encourage others to do the same, whether it's their partner, their peers or their classmates," said student Percy Jackson.
10/15/10
MISSISSIPPI: Safe Sex Forum at Jackson State University Sheds Light on HIV, Prevention
Source: Clarion Ledger (Jackson) (10.12.10):: Nick Samuel; Courtesy of the CDC National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention