Health forum focuses on safe sex
By Danielle Skinner
Issue date: 10/22/08 Section: News
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The guest speaker for the forum was Mark Knight, an outreach worker and health educator from Guiding Right, Inc. The organization was established in order to help educate the Black community on the importance of protecting themselves from HIV/AIDS.
During the forum, Knight made it clear that anyone can contract the HIV virus, although some groups are more at risk than others.
"It is easier for a male to infect a female, and there is a higher rate of infections amongst gay male partners," he said.
Knight also stressed the importance of Black women protecting themselves from HIV/AIDS and other harmful STDs.
"African-American women make up 68 percent of HIV/AIDS cases," Knight explained. "Black women need to have confidence to have the discussion with their partner, demand that he uses a condom, and say "NO" if he refuses."
Knight also took the time to explain to students how HIV is contracted, in case there were people in the audience who still believed long-held myths about the virus.
"AIDS cannot be contracted through coughing, shaking hands, swimming in pools, toilet seats, or casual contact," he said. "Many people believe in these misconceptions. AIDS is such a big problem because no one teaches people the truth about AIDS."
Knight said HIV is most commonly transmitted sexually by semen and vaginal secretions, and is transmitted through the blood by sharing needles or syringes (primarily for drug injection). HIV can also be transmitted prenatally; babies born to HIV-infected women may become infected before or during birth or through breast-feeding after birth.
Knight advised the students in attendance to get tested, practice abstinence, and use condoms, not share needles, and educate friends and family about safe sex practices.
Towards the end of the forum, students were given the opportunity to ask questions. When asked where does AIDS come from, Knight responded, "AIDS can be traced back to the 1930s, but where it comes from is irrelevant, what matters is where it's not going to go. It's up to us to fight it."
For more information on the Guiding Right, Inc., contact Mark Knight at 405-733-0771.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Stewart Coulter
posted 10/29/08 @ 12:20 AM CST
Excellent article, and critically important points. Mark is an outstanding outreach worker and health educator!! If I could further clarify one point: Among women of all races and ethnicities who are infected with HIV, 68% are Black women, and Black women make up about 13% of women in the U. (Continued…)
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