Spring Break
Panelists promote HIV testing, communication with family to defend against virus
Rie Nakanishi
Issue date: 12/3/08 Section: News
More people turned out to the second day of the three-day World AIDS Day event than the first, as approximately 30 people gathered for the panel in which speakers discussed the importance of breaking down the communication barrier for AIDS issues.
In a Q-and-A style panel, Stephanie Bowens, the event organizer and a peer health educator in sexual and gender health, questioned the panelists about AIDS issues among the younger generation.
The three speakers on the panel were Melinda Chu-Yang, the wellness and health promotion coordinator from the SJSU Student Health Center, Vanae Tran, founder of Rock Your Awareness and an SJSU alumna, and James Smith, a representative from the Health Trust.
Rock Your Awareness is a nonprofit organization that reaches out to young people to raise awareness of AIDS and sexual health and empower them to take action.
The Heath Trust is a Silicon Valley-based organization that provides resources and support for HIV and AIDS patients.
Some panelists weren't able to attend because of their health condition.
"I really wanted to bring people from outside the campus so that (students) can see how (AIDS) would affect them in the real world," Bowens said. "The panel was successful. I really liked how (the panelists) emphasized communication."
The three topics the panel addressed were: how to stop the increase in rates of HIV infections among young people in America; the cultural awareness difference in AIDS and sexually transmitted infections between minority groups; and behavior guidelines for young people to protect themselves.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1.2 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in the United States as of the end of 2003, and 15 percent of them are young people between 13 and 24 years old.
Chu-Yang said the high rate of infection among the younger generation results from a lack of communication.
"People aren't talking about testing and are not talking to their partners because they are embarrassed and scared to talk to each other," Chu-Yang said. "We need to really focus on communicating with each other and understand each other."
In a Q-and-A style panel, Stephanie Bowens, the event organizer and a peer health educator in sexual and gender health, questioned the panelists about AIDS issues among the younger generation.
The three speakers on the panel were Melinda Chu-Yang, the wellness and health promotion coordinator from the SJSU Student Health Center, Vanae Tran, founder of Rock Your Awareness and an SJSU alumna, and James Smith, a representative from the Health Trust.
Rock Your Awareness is a nonprofit organization that reaches out to young people to raise awareness of AIDS and sexual health and empower them to take action.
The Heath Trust is a Silicon Valley-based organization that provides resources and support for HIV and AIDS patients.
Some panelists weren't able to attend because of their health condition.
"I really wanted to bring people from outside the campus so that (students) can see how (AIDS) would affect them in the real world," Bowens said. "The panel was successful. I really liked how (the panelists) emphasized communication."
The three topics the panel addressed were: how to stop the increase in rates of HIV infections among young people in America; the cultural awareness difference in AIDS and sexually transmitted infections between minority groups; and behavior guidelines for young people to protect themselves.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1.2 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in the United States as of the end of 2003, and 15 percent of them are young people between 13 and 24 years old.
Chu-Yang said the high rate of infection among the younger generation results from a lack of communication.
"People aren't talking about testing and are not talking to their partners because they are embarrassed and scared to talk to each other," Chu-Yang said. "We need to really focus on communicating with each other and understand each other."
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