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Folks from Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (RHAC) will be on campus during the FSU’s Sexual Awareness week, which runs from September 15 to 19, as well as the week following to conduct a testing week to promote the Are You Doin’ It campaign.

Sexual health is near and dear to those involved, and Director of Education Meredith Fraser is glad to be partnering with Fanshawe once again.

“The timing [of Sexual Awareness week] is quite fantastic and it’s a series of events. Since we do work in sexual health, it makes a lot of sense,” she said. “There’s a lot of synergy there.”

The campaign, which is in its fifth year, focuses on awareness building, Fraser said.

“The other goal of the campaign is to actually, through awareness raising, increase the number of HIV tests completed in London and the surrounding counties that RHAC serve.”

Thirty per cent of people living in Ontario have HIV and don’t realize it, she said, and students at Fanshawe are part of that community – so it’s important to reach everyone.

“The only way to know your status is to be tested,” she said. “It’s important to have that information so you can make informed decisions about your sexual health, about your wellness in general.”

Fraser said that getting tested for HIV and STIs should be as regular as going to the dentist.

“It’s part of a health care routine,” she said. “It contributes to a person’s overall health and well-being, [and] general health and well-being of the community. We want people to engage in sex lives that are meaningful and fulfilling and fun.”

“Having awareness of one’s HIV status and sexual health overall is [an] important contributor to that process.”

Testing week is available for all, and Fraser hopes students feel encouraged to come out as it is anonymous.

“The room that will be used has been scouted out based on its location to give it some privacy,” she said. “The type of testing that they do is anonymous testing. You don’t need a health card, they don’t take your name.”

RHAC maintains relationships with educational institutes like high schools as well as Western University and Fanshawe.

“We always look for opportunities to engage and educate,” she said. “We try and develop formats that make the learning fun that recognize that sexual health and sex are fun and enjoyable things.”

“People do have sex, people enjoy sex [and] people are sexually active,” Fraser continued. “Knowing that, how can share information that supports informed decision-making in a fun and interesting way. This campaign is one way we’re doing that.”

Fraser said that sometimes not knowing about the process could possibly discourage someone from getting tested.

“I would encourage people to get informed, learn the facts, help fight the stigma and know your status. If you’re not sure how to talk about HIV or you’re worried about getting tested, give us a call.”

RHAC can be found at 186 King St. and reached by phone at (519)-434-1601.