Taylor Bembery
Blue & White Flash / Staff Writer
Jackson State University celebrated National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on Feb. 7 with a series of events to educate students about the epidemic that affects their community. The main event was the “Battle of The Classes” testing challenge which took place from 11 a.m. until 1p.m and was hosted by Project S.A.F.E, The Division of Student Life, and T.R.O.O.P.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus short for HIV, can destroy so many CD4 cells that the body cannot fight infections and diseases. When that happens, HIV infection can lead to AIDS.
In the midst of this observation of National Black HIV/AIDS awareness day, according to the most recent data released from the Mississippi State Department of Health, Mississippi’s African Americans remain most likely to be diagnosed with HIV infection.
Dr. Nicholas Mosca, director of the MSDH Office of STD/HIV, suggests that African-Americans are more likely to be in a situation where HIV status is unknown or disclosed.
“Those who have sex outside of a long-term mutually monogamous relationship shouldn’t ‘guess’ a partners status or rely on their honesty,” said Mosca.” Casual sex always requires the correct and consistent use of condoms and routine HIV testing after each sexual encounter to determine exposure to HIV infection.”
Kevin Patterson, an Intervention Specialist for Project S.A.F.E at JSU, said “at black colleges and universities we have such a large population of African-Americans, this disease is affecting us more than any other ethnic group. So awareness for JSU students is crucial because colleges are where most people make some of the riskiest sexual decisions in their life.
“So if students are making risky sexual decisions and yet are afraid to talk about the issues relating to HIV then all we are doing is perpetuating the problem and making it even worse. So it is crucial that we not only talk about HIV but also provide tools for them so they can make better sexual decisions for their health.”
Students can come and test at Project S.A.F.E in the Dolly M.E. Liberal Arts Building on the 1st floor and the Health Center on campus. Crossroads Clinic in the Medical Mall on Woodrow Wilson, and My Brother’s Keeper, Building Bridges are several community organizations in the city that also provide HIV testing and most of them are free of charge.
In terms of accomplishments in the observation of National Black HIV/AIDS awareness day, JSU has a stand alone HIV testing center.
“We wouldn’t exist if we haven’t proven ourselves to do this; we’ve been doing it for six years. The fact that we are here and able to test Monday through Thursday, every time we do one test, to me it’s an accomplishment because its giving a person a chance to be empowered with their health status,” said Patterson.
JSU has been able to work with students and identify people who are potentially infected. If people test positive then it gives the person the opportunity to make decisions about their health as well as help them to be careful with who they can potentially infect.
Henry Goss, a freshman mass communications major from Jackson, Miss., who is in the process of trying to become a peer health educator, shared how he feels about his peers and HIV Awareness.
“I don’t even know if my peers are concerned even though it’s a life threatening disease but as far as everyday awareness I don’t think that many students are concerned,” he stated. “However, the great thing about the National Awareness Day is it gets more students involved about their health,” said Goss.
Students can get involved with Project S.A.F.E by becoming a peer health educator. Students go to classrooms and educate their peers with presentations about HIV/AIDS, help with the national awareness days, and different programs throughout the year.
For more information about Project S.A.F.E., call 601-979-1551, visit the website 10.14.12.245/wethoughtyoushouldknow or visit the Facebook page at Project S.A.F.E. Information can also be obtained from the JSU Health Center; call 601-979-2260.
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