Texas State celebrates 'Getting to Zero' on World AIDS Day

Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
November 21, 2012

Texas State University’s Health Promotion Services team, Healthy Cats Peer Educators, will bring awareness to the global AIDS epidemic on Nov. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Quad.

"Getting to Zero" will be the theme for the event to increase awareness about the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), provide prevention strategies and reduce the stigma and misinformation associated with the virus.

Healthy Cats Peer Educators intend to raise awareness and help to reach the goal of "Getting to Zero: Zero discrimination, zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS related deaths." World AIDS Day will be celebrated by the Healthy Cats Peer Educators by playing educational games and the distribution of resources, buttons, red AIDS awareness ribbons and condom packets to students, faculty and staff.

On Dec. 3, there will be Free HIV Testing in the LBJ Student Center rooms 3-4.1 and 3-6.1. from 2-6 p.m. There will also be educational programs from 4-6 p.m. in LBJSC 3-5.1. The speakers will be Joe McAdams and VOICES from AIDS Services of Austin. The testing and educational programs are sponsored by the Coalition of Black Faculty and Staff, NAACP Texas State Student Chapter and Dr. Tondra L. Moore, School of Health Professions.

World AIDS Day is celebrated on Dec. 1 each year around the world. It has become one of the most recognized international health days and an important opportunity to raise awareness, commemorate those who have passed on and celebrate victories such as increased access to treatment and prevention services. Last year, more than 100 worldwide communities commemorated World AIDS Day with the Light for Rights Campaign, and UNAIDS reported signs of decline in new infections of the global AIDS epidemic.

For more information about campus events for World AIDS Day, visit www.healthcenter.txstate.edu/HealthyCats.html. For more information about World AIDS Day or HIV/AIDS, please visit www.worldaidscampaign.org. For more information about the free HIV testing and educational programs please contact Dr. Tondra Moore at tm36@txstate.edu.