Nursing sophomore Jana Holguin receives a free shirt and fliers
about HIV and STD’s from Jennifer Nobbie, community health
coordinator with San Antonio Housing Authority, Feb. 7 during a
free HIV testing event in the mall. Monica Correa
Free on-campus HIV testing will be offered 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Feb. 25, March 4 and 25, and April 8 and 29 in Room 150 of Loftin Student Center.
Tests only require a cheek swab, and confidential results are available in 15 minutes.
Peer Educators, who also provide free testing, served 77 students from this college in the 2011-12 academic year.
Being sexually active without knowing your own health status is inexcusable.
If you are not concerned with your own status, why would you even wonder about the health status of partners?
It is sort of like playing Russian Roulette with a fully loaded gun — you are asking for it.
Should results be positive for the human immunodeficiency virus, support and counseling is available.
John Barbo, supervisor of prevention for B.E.A.T. AIDS, said being responsible means knowing your HIV status, getting tested and knowing the HIV status of your partner.
If you test positive, knowing your sexual health status will help you determine an action plan for treatment and slowing any progression of the virus.
Being regularly tested also prevents the spread of other sexually transmitted diseases to partners.
Be responsible for your own sexual health and that of your partners by getting tested regularly.
The life you save might be your own.
For more information on the free HIV testing, call Erika Pena, program coordinator of the health promotions office, at 210-486-0158.
For more information on Peer Educators, call Mariana Solis at 210-486-1448 or visit Room 140 of Moody Learning Center.
