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For Immediate Release:
27 June 2007
Contact:
Shumaya B. Ali
shumaya22@hotmail.com
What’s New at the National HIV Testing Day? Condom Art!
Washington, DC –June 27, 2007- Save Lives: Free the Condoms Coalition (Save Lives) will hold its third Condom Art Event on Saturday, June 30, 2007, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., in conjunction with National HIV Testing Day. This
crucial community event, sponsored by Metro TeenAids, will be held at
the Mary & Daniel Loughran, Boys & Girls Clubhouse #10 at 2500
14th Street, N.W., Washington DC.
Traditionally, condoms are distributed at such events to emphasize the benefit of condom use. As
an alternative, this year, Save Lives will engage members of the
community in crafting condoms into works of art, an innovative way to
de-stigmatize condom use and create dialogue about access to condoms
and HIV/AIDS prevention. The Coalition is
hopeful that as participants leave the event with their artwork, they
will understand the importance of having access to condoms and condom
use, especially in Washington, DC—a city with the highest rate of
HIV/AIDS transmission in the nation. For more information about National HIV Testing Day, please contact Lamar Anderson 202-543-9355.
Condoms
are a proven method of preventing unintended pregnancies, STDs and
HIV/AIDS transmission; however, access to condoms remains a challenge
for segments of society, which can discourage use and, thereby,
contribute to increase rates of sexually transmission diseases. .
According
to a report by DC Appleseed, a non-profit organization that works to
solve the public policy problems in Washington, DC, “Removing barriers
to condoms and increasing use of condoms among those that are sexually
active must become a top priority.” DC Appleseed estimates that as many
as 1 in 20 DC residents may be HIV positive.
Save
Lives: Free the Condoms Coalition is a non-profit grass roots
organization under the auspices of The Student Public Health
Association at The George Washington University School of Public Health
and Health Services. The Coalition fights to improve condom access for
everyone. For more information on Save Lives please visit us at http://studentorgs.gwu.edu/phsa/savelives/
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