2008 Woodie Awards
"Cover your Lover" for National Condom Week
Meredith Clinton
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: News
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, National Condom Week has a long history of educating the nation on how the correct and consistent use of condoms effectively prevents sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unintended pregnancies. Recognized during the week of Valentine's Day, it has grown in popularity as students nationwide embrace the opportunity to learn more about their contraceptive options and become educated about protecting themselves from STDs.
The need for condom awareness is based on startling health statistics. The United States has the world's highest rate of curable STDs, with 19 million new cases reported annually. However, many individuals are unaware of their STD status, and unknowingly infect their partners.
In honor of this week, the College's Health Center has worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to raise awareness about STDs and the importance of condoms with the Cover Your Lover campaign. On Tues., Feb. 12 and Wed., Feb. 13, there was a table in Seegers where students could receive information on STDs, and there was also free HIV testing on Wed., Feb 13 given by the Allentown Health Bureau. Even though the events for this week were in light of National Condom Week, students should remember that the Health Center can always be contacted for STD testing.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health also sent the College 1,000 free condoms that will be distributed throughout today, Valentine's Day. There have also been warning sign posters in various places on campus advertising the suggestion that whether or not you can see the symptoms of an STD with your partner, one should always proceed with caution.
Here are some surprising facts regarding STDs that have been provided by the College Health Department: twelve million new cases of STDs occur annually in the United States, two thirds of persons who acquire STDs are under age 25, and women are particularly vulnerable to STDs because they are more biologically susceptible to certain STDs than men and are more likely to have asymptomatic infections that result in delayed diagnoses and treatment.
Planned Parenthood of North East Pennsylvania is offering free condoms: to anyone who requests them in all of its medical centers. Medical centers are located in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Hazleton, Reading, Scranton, Stroudsburg, and Wilkes-Barre. Find the nearest center by calling 1-800-230-PLAN.
Planned Parenthood has provided the following fun facts about condoms; in 1844, Charles Goodyear obtained the first patent on a crepe rubber condom, in the 1920's, vending machines made mass distribution of condoms possible for "protection against disease" even though there was a federal law prohibiting the sale of contraceptives, and it is estimated that over 5 billion condoms are used each year globally.
The need for condom awareness is based on startling health statistics. The United States has the world's highest rate of curable STDs, with 19 million new cases reported annually. However, many individuals are unaware of their STD status, and unknowingly infect their partners.
In honor of this week, the College's Health Center has worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to raise awareness about STDs and the importance of condoms with the Cover Your Lover campaign. On Tues., Feb. 12 and Wed., Feb. 13, there was a table in Seegers where students could receive information on STDs, and there was also free HIV testing on Wed., Feb 13 given by the Allentown Health Bureau. Even though the events for this week were in light of National Condom Week, students should remember that the Health Center can always be contacted for STD testing.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health also sent the College 1,000 free condoms that will be distributed throughout today, Valentine's Day. There have also been warning sign posters in various places on campus advertising the suggestion that whether or not you can see the symptoms of an STD with your partner, one should always proceed with caution.
Here are some surprising facts regarding STDs that have been provided by the College Health Department: twelve million new cases of STDs occur annually in the United States, two thirds of persons who acquire STDs are under age 25, and women are particularly vulnerable to STDs because they are more biologically susceptible to certain STDs than men and are more likely to have asymptomatic infections that result in delayed diagnoses and treatment.
Planned Parenthood of North East Pennsylvania is offering free condoms: to anyone who requests them in all of its medical centers. Medical centers are located in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Hazleton, Reading, Scranton, Stroudsburg, and Wilkes-Barre. Find the nearest center by calling 1-800-230-PLAN.
Planned Parenthood has provided the following fun facts about condoms; in 1844, Charles Goodyear obtained the first patent on a crepe rubber condom, in the 1920's, vending machines made mass distribution of condoms possible for "protection against disease" even though there was a federal law prohibiting the sale of contraceptives, and it is estimated that over 5 billion condoms are used each year globally.