Sexual health experts share info, condoms

Free and confidential HIV/AIDS tests were offered.

By Erica Zucco

Published Oct. 12, 2007

National Pan-Hellenic Council Fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha held its annual Sexual Education Awareness Forum on Thursday to spread information about sexually transmitted diseases, methods of protection and warnings about the growing threat of HIV.

Columbia Health Department official Bill Monroe conducted a presentation for MU students sharing information concerning scabies, pubic lice, herpes, human papillomavirus, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Monroe provided slides and warnings about the contraction of each disease.

"Many people with these infections do not even know that they have them," Monroe said. "Many patients will come into the ER for another reason entirely, take a urine test and then learn that they have gonorrhea."

Health Department official Thel Sargent continued the presentation, stressing the importance of protection when having sex.

"I tell people all the time, use condoms, use condoms, use condoms," Sargent said. "You will get used to them."

Students were offered free male and female condoms, dental dams, condom holders and lubricants. These products are regularly offered at the Columbia Health Department, and Sargent told students that if in need, they may pick them up at the Health Department or call Sargent and have them delivered to campus. Sargent also told students that if they plan to have a large party, they should call him several days in advance, and he will provide hundreds of condoms.

"The goal is to save lives," Sargent said.

Sargent said the number one cause of death for black men and women is HIV/AIDS. He also said the city of St. Louis was No. 1 in the nation for cases of gonorrhea, No. 2 for cases of chlamydia and No. 5 for cases of syphilis.

Students were also offered free, confidential HIV tests at the forum. Health Department officials obtained a cotton swab sample of intracellular fluid, and results will be made available at the Black Culture Center once processed. Free testing is always available at the Columbia Health Department.

Young women present at the forum were encouraged to consider the Gardasil vaccine, targeted toward preventing human papillomavirus and cervical cancer. The vaccine is available through the MU Health Center.

The Sexual Awareness Education Forum was open to all MU students.

"Providing information in this type of setting, to a large group, really gets the word out there and makes it a public idea," Alpha Phi Alpha sophomore Gerald McLemore said.

The forum is a part of a national initiative encouraging all Alpha Phi Alpha fraternities to increase awareness of infections and methods of protection on campus.