In an effort to promote awareness and prevention of HIV and AIDS,the Southern University Student Health Center is now offering free HIV testingon campus.
According to the National Center of Health Services, there were8,063 cumulative HIV infection cases reported through 2002 in the state ofLouisiana. The same survey showedthat there were 199,759 cases reported in the country.
Wanda Warner, nurse manager at the health center believes that thereis a misconception about Southern students and the HIV virus.
“The perception is that Southern University is putting out a lot ofstudents that are HIV positive, which is not true,” Warner said.
The number of billboards centered around the school dealing with HIVadds to this misleading perception, Warner said.
“They are thinking that Baton Rouge has the number two rate of HIVcases,” she said.
“They are not looking at the fact that Baton Rouge has the numbertwo rate of cases admittedly reporting HIV, and that’s a totally differentthing,” Warner said.
Many students and residents of Baton Rouge have blurred perceptionsabout HIV cases due to the abundance of misinformation about the virus.
“New cases means that we have people that are actually going out,getting tested and finding that they have AIDS,” Warner said.
A NCHS survey in Louisiana revealed that women are more likely thanmen to get tested. The study alsoshowed that the percent of persons between the ages of 18-64 who reported everreceiving an HIV test in 2001 was 47.4 percent.
“New Orleans probably has the highest rate in the state, but theirpeople are not going to get tested,” she said.
“We are trying to offer whatever we have to prevent any student fromcontracting HIV, hepatitis B, gonorrhea, whatever,” Warner said.
Condoms and literature about HIV prevention are also available tostudents at the campus health center.
“We also try to focus on abstinence as a way of prevention as well,”Warner said.
Students are encouraged to take full advantage of these free teststo make sure that they are HIV free and also educate themselves about thevirus.
“If you take a step to get tested, you’ll know that you are not HIVpositive or HIV infected at this point,” Warner said. “If you decide to get married or what have you, you’ll knowat what point you may have contracted the disease. If you never get tested, you probably will never know.”
Students can be tested for HIV in the health center every Thursdayfrom 5 to 7 p.m.
A cotton swab test is administered, and the results of the test takeup to a week to be obtained. Testresults will not be given to the university. Students will be contacted by Metro Health if they are HIVpositive. Students will then be able to choose to be treated at the schoolunder confidentiality by a physician.
“I think it’s a good thing,” said Rodrick Minor, a junior fine artsmajor from Woodville, Miss. ”Some people are not taking care of their responsibilities as far asfinding out about HIV. So it’s a good thing.”
