Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – Health officials in Central New York are launching an awareness campaign after seeing a rise in cases of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
In 2010, 661 cases of STDs in people between the ages of 13 and 25 were diagnosed, while 41 new cases of HIV have been identified among people in the same category in Onondaga County. Most of the HIV cases were diagnosed among African-Americans.
To combat the trend, health officials will be taking the message of “One Decision” to billboards, bus shelters, and social media, including Facebook.
The campaign will utilize images that reflect the impacted population.
Michael Crinnin, Executive Director of AIDS Community Resources says there is a myth that the AIDS epidemic is over.
“There’s a myth out there that AIDS has a cure. That you can take a pill to treat HIV and there are no consequences. There is no cure. There are consequences. AIDS Community Resources Youth Division expands our mission to educate young people about the danger they put themselves in through unprotected sex,” he said in a press release.
24-year-old Shannon Brown is within the target demographic the campaign is geared toward. Shortly after she found out she was pregnant, she also discovered that she was HIV positive.
“I’ve been HIV positive for four years now,” she said. “People look at me different and people say things, but I don’t feel it’s something I should have to hide,” she said.
To make sure others don’t end up in her situation, she’s backing the “One Decision” campaign.
The different media the campaign is utilizing are designed to work in concert.
“Facebook allows them to post their one decision, their defining moment of when they made or took charge of their sexual health,” said Bernard Alex, the health director at the Southwest Community Center.
More than 100 signs and billboards are going up on busy streets, in schools, in malls, and in other places that young people congregate. The billboards remind young people to log onto Facebook to share their story and get comments back from others their age.
Organizations involved in the campaign:
- AIDS Community Resources
- Center for Community Alternatives
- CNY Ryan White HIV Care Network
- National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS/Syracuse Affiliate
- NYSDOH Regional Office
- NYSDOH Central Office
- Onondaga Health Department
- Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility (FACES)
- Syracuse University
- SUNY Upstate Designated AIDS Center (DAC)
