World AIDS Day comes to WMU

By Fritz Klug
News Editor

The internationally observed World AIDS Day is being remembered at Western Michigan University this Tuesday with a candlelight vigil across campus.

“Not many students are aware of the risk of contracting HIV,” said Veronica Kobler, a WMU student and peer health educator at Sindecuse Health Center, and co-organzier of the event.

Established in 1988 by the World Health Organization, World AIDS Day is meant to raise awareness and commemorate those who have who have died from complications with AIDS, which are the same aims of the vigil walk.

Another goal of the walk is to raise money to bring at least 20 panels of the AIDS Quilt to campus in February for Sexual Responsibility Week in February.

The last time sections of the quilt have been brought to campus was in 1999.

The Sexual Health Peer Educators have created a panel that will be added to the Memorial Quilt. It will be on display in the Bernhard Center from Nov. 30 to Dec. 7.

According to the WHO’s 2008 epidemic update, an estimated 33 million people are living with HIV, 2.8 newly contracted it in 2008. Over a million people are living with HIV in the United States.

The walk will begin at 6:30 p.m. in front of Bernhard Center. Then there will be a candlelight walk around campus, which will end at Sindecuse Health Center. A short program will follow regarding HIV Facts and risk behaviors that can lead to exposure, how the quilt was brought to campus, and information about becoming a Sexual Health Peer Educator. Light refreshments will be served.

The Southwest Michigan branch of CARES will be offering free and confidential HIV testing throughout the week at the following locations:

Monday, Nov. 30, from 12 to 3 p.m. at Ministry with Community 440 N. Church St., Kalamazoo.

Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 12 to 3 p.m. at Planned Parenthood, 4201 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo.

Testing will be available all week at the CARES office, 629 Pioneer St., Kalamazoo, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Free AIDS testing is also available at Sindecuse Health Center during normal business hours.

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=12702

Posted by heraldstaff on Nov 29 2009. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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