Are YOU doin' it, Fanshawe?
Every year, Fanshawe runs a
sexual awareness week full of free
condoms, sex-themed events and
tons of information about safe sex.
One important element of Sex
Week that is not always the most
fun, but often the most beneficial
for your health, is getting tested for
sexually transmitted infections.
The "Are You Doin' It?" campaign is part of the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection's annual STI testing week, which raises awareness of the importance of getting tested regularly for sexual transmitted infections. This year, testing week happens from September 26 to 30, with representatives from the campaign on Fanshawe's campus in Forwell Hall September 19 and 20, the Tuesday and Wednesday preceding testing week itself.
Paul Sutton, Regional HIV Educator for London and the surrounding area, spoke about the campaign. "Testing awareness week is a annual campaign that we hold through Regional HIV/AIDS Connection. We do it in partnership with the London InterCommunity Health Centre, Middlesex London Health Unit, St. Joseph's Hospital and Youth Opportunities Unlimited."
"We take the lead (of the other four agencies involved) in terms of the campaign," he explained. "We decided about a year ago that we wanted to do an campaign every year to say, 'Go out and get tested.'"
"It's important that everyone who is sexually active gets tested for STIs regularly, even if you don't think you've engaged in any risky activities." Sutton emphasized that, "Even if you've been in a monogamous relationship, you need to get tested."
"Regular testing should be part of the way that we take care of our overall health," he continued. One of the reasons that regular testing is so vital to your health is that some diseases can go unnoticed by those infected, such as HIV. According to Sutton, approximately 26 per cent of people infected with HIV are unaware that they have it, which can lead to unknowingly spreading the infection to others. "If you don't know your status (of infection), it's certainly possible and probable that you will be participating in risky activities," said Sutton.
Sutton said being unaware of an HIV infection is particularly dangerous, as HIV is in its most infectious state within the first three months of being contracted.
Sure, it might be embarrassing, or you might not think it could happen to you, or you might not believe you have any reason to get tested because you've been with the same partner for years exclusively, but everyone needs to get tested regularly for STIs. So shrug off the embarrassment and do something good for your sexual health and wellbeing.
For more information on the campaign or where you can go to get tested, visit testingweek.ca
The "Are You Doin' It?" campaign is part of the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection's annual STI testing week, which raises awareness of the importance of getting tested regularly for sexual transmitted infections. This year, testing week happens from September 26 to 30, with representatives from the campaign on Fanshawe's campus in Forwell Hall September 19 and 20, the Tuesday and Wednesday preceding testing week itself.
Paul Sutton, Regional HIV Educator for London and the surrounding area, spoke about the campaign. "Testing awareness week is a annual campaign that we hold through Regional HIV/AIDS Connection. We do it in partnership with the London InterCommunity Health Centre, Middlesex London Health Unit, St. Joseph's Hospital and Youth Opportunities Unlimited."
"We take the lead (of the other four agencies involved) in terms of the campaign," he explained. "We decided about a year ago that we wanted to do an campaign every year to say, 'Go out and get tested.'"
"It's important that everyone who is sexually active gets tested for STIs regularly, even if you don't think you've engaged in any risky activities." Sutton emphasized that, "Even if you've been in a monogamous relationship, you need to get tested."
"Regular testing should be part of the way that we take care of our overall health," he continued. One of the reasons that regular testing is so vital to your health is that some diseases can go unnoticed by those infected, such as HIV. According to Sutton, approximately 26 per cent of people infected with HIV are unaware that they have it, which can lead to unknowingly spreading the infection to others. "If you don't know your status (of infection), it's certainly possible and probable that you will be participating in risky activities," said Sutton.
Sutton said being unaware of an HIV infection is particularly dangerous, as HIV is in its most infectious state within the first three months of being contracted.
Sure, it might be embarrassing, or you might not think it could happen to you, or you might not believe you have any reason to get tested because you've been with the same partner for years exclusively, but everyone needs to get tested regularly for STIs. So shrug off the embarrassment and do something good for your sexual health and wellbeing.
For more information on the campaign or where you can go to get tested, visit testingweek.ca
