Submitted Item: HIV/AIDS/STD
Educational
In the past, many have stereotypically looked at the HIV/AIDS as a virus that only affects those of homosexual orientation or of drug addicts. As the years progressed and social climates changed, we see a new era of those infected with the HIV/AIDS virus. We see now that those who are affected include people of heterosexual orientation, and all levels of Socio Economic Status (SES). Evolving from it’s original label, it is now seen as a disease of the poor, which disproportionately affects Raza all over the U.S.
In looking at the growing statistics adversely affecting Raza, we now ask what effect HIV/AIDS/STDs has on the Raza community. Breaking it down to certain key aspects, we search to find out how each plays a role in determining the outcome of how the community can prevent or detect the problem areas that affect the growing cases of HIV/AIDS/STDs between Chicana/o Latina/os. Within the community, we break it down into four (4) different elements which are: social aspects, religious beliefs, education & risks involved and how this disproportionately affects the Raza community, and the prevention and solution for HIV/AIDS/STDs.
In researching, we all hope to take the first step in stopping the epidemic of HIV/AIDS/STDs within the Raza and within all people. It is estimated that by the year 2010 about half the U.S. population will be infected with the HIV/AIDS or other related sexually transmitted diseases. Statistics show that STDs are spreading furiously among the Raza community. Many of these compañeros with HIV/AIDS/STDs never knew they had even been infected. Only after it had developed into full-blown HIV/AIDS or other sexuality transmitted diseases did they know they acquired the disease.
What we have come to realize is that our community is not getting tested. The reason why this has been the case is very complex. Many people are fearful. Others think that the testing is expensive or that their families will be notified. Others simply believe that it could never happen to them.
In learning of the increased risk in our community and especially within 13 to 25-year-olds, we have come to the realization that something has to be done to educate La Raza about the disease. We believe that this issue is of extreme importance due to the increased exposure of sex not only in the media, but in our lives as well.
We need to raise our awareness not only of the ignorance there is on sexually transmitted diseases, but also of these diseases that continues to plague our community. Remember that is more than a fight for social change, it’s a fight for life.
Short Term:
1) Educate self
2) Educate M.E.Ch.A. chapter
3) Organize, and mobilize
your M.E.Ch.A. chapter to inform your campus and your community
4) Execute approved tactics
on External M.E.Ch.A. (Centrales, Regionals, Statewides, Nationals) Level
Intermediate Term:
1) Focus on continued education in the community on HIV/AIDS/STDs
Long Term:
1) Develop a long term pipeline
of information on statistics and prevention methods on HIV/AIDS/STDs
2) Have information on testing
centers available to External M.E.Ch.A. (Centrales, Regionals, Statewides,
Nationals) Level
Short Term:
1) Take a sex/disease education
class or research statistics in your community of how HIV/AIDS/STDs
is affecting the Raza community at large
2) Have programming or workshops
on campus educating chapters of the contraction of HIV/AIDS/STDs
and different methods of contraception that can prevent the further transmission
of these diseases
3) Host a testing drive or
a forum on campus informing students of the dangers of HIV/AIDS/STDs
& different methods of prevention and resources on campus that
will help in the fight against HIV/AIDS/STDs.
Also, inform other campus groups and their respective communities for support
4) Have an educational segment
on HIV/AIDS/STDs at external meetings at least
once a semester/quarter to inform participating chapters of this NAA and
the facts behind HIV/AIDS/STDs
Intermediate Term:
1) Educate family, friends, and the Raza community at large by word of mouth or inviting them to your school for a community forum informing them of the dangers of HIV/AIDS/STDs and how it directly affects them. Have information to pass out or write it down on a board for them to note including statistics, effects of STDs, warning signs, profolactics (protection), and resources available for them in the community such as testing centers & support lines
Long Term:
1) Implement a permanent mandatory workshop at every external M.E.Ch.A. Conference (Regionals, Statewides, Nationals). It will be a permanent workshop that will continue to inform M.E.Ch.A. chapters on HIV/AIDS/STDs and how they adversely affect them.
2) Fully utilize Communication Centers by having them disperse information from these workshops in the National Communication Center Meeting whether by mail-outs used for Conference details, e-mail, or by M.E.Ch.A. webpages. Have Communication Centers give updates on how each tactic benefits M.E.Ch.A. Also establish a column in the M.E.Ch.A. National Newsletter to update chapters on ongoing information regarding HIV/AIDS/STDs “Objective Twelve: The establishment of a National Newsletter, augmented by Regional Newsletters that provide important information on issues occurring at various campuses; this also promotes tighter linkage through ongoing communications. Process of Implementation: Each member campus in your Region should be given the task on a rotating basis of putting out the Regional Newsletter, with each Region responsible for contributing to the National Newsletter that should eventually become a newspaper for the process. (M.E.Ch.A. Philosophy Papers, Pg. 14)
1) M.E.Ch.A. Chapters (Jr.
High, High School, College, University Levels)
2) External M.E.Ch.A. (Centrales,
Regionals, Statewides, Nationals)
3) Respective Communities,
both on-campus and off-campus
4) Friends and Family
HIV/AIDS
Research In The Raza Community (UCR)
Red
Cross HIV/AIDS Education Program
Center
of Disease Control & Prevention
Dr.
Drew.com : STDs
Dr.
Drew.com : HIV/AIDS
