Safe Valentine’s day
National Condom Awareness Day
Los Angeles - The County Department of Public Health wants to remind local residents to be safe this national day of love and protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases.
February 14 is National Condom Awareness Day. In observance, the Dept of Public Health is making condoms available to the public for free at all public health STD clinics.
“The consistent and correct use of condoms is still the best way for sexually active people to reduce the risk of contracting potentially serious sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV,” said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, a Public Health officer. “You owe it to yourself and to your partner to take the appropriate steps to protect your body.”
Los Angeles County has experienced a steady increase of reported STDs including Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis. Sexually active people can purchase in-home STD testing kits at local drug stores or receive a free kit for women from Department of Public Health. More information is available at publichealth.lacounty.gov.
“People do not realize how common these STDs are,” Fielding commented. “The majority of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea infection in women is asymptomatic, or has such mild initial symptoms that they go unnoticed. Unfortunately, these STDs can have long-term health consequences that include infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and ectopic pregnancy, which are potentially life-threatening conditions.”
Reports of STDs were highest among African Americans, according to a 2008 study of sexually transmitted disease morbidity report released by the Department of Public Health. People between the ages of 15 and 24, who are likely more sexually active with multiple partners, are more likely to contract an STD.
So be safe and healthy this Valentine’s day and practice safe sex.
Just last week I was at a baby shower celebrating my friend’s future baby girl. Jesse and his girlfriend are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Zoe, the future light of their lives. After leaving the baby shower for some reason, I kept noticing pregnant women. No matter if was at the mall, at a bookstore, at a restaurant or even at school, I noticed many women expecting a child. However, I also noticed that many of these were women and not teenage girls like I was used to seeing.
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif.—The Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation announced a petition drive today to get a city ordinance on the June ballot that would require porn actors to wear condoms.
“At present, animals working in film and TV productions in Los Angeles enjoy more safety and health protections than adult film performers do,” according to Michael Weinstein, president of AHF. “There are laws and state statutes to protect adult performers, but there is no real enforcement.”
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—West Hollywood officials today hailed the city’s ranking as the “most walkable city” in California and fourth-best in the nation in a survey that also placed Santa Monica and Culver City in the top 20 nationally for being walking-friendly.
The ratings by Seattle-based Walk Score gave West Hollywood a ranking of 89.4, a score indicating that residents are generally able to carry out most daily errands on foot.
The Passion for Christ Movement (P4CM) is a grassroots ministry dedicated to helping Los Angeles County at-risk youth develop life skills and spiritual direction. The members of the movement are concerned with impacting the present generation to create a better future, and they offer their services to the community voluntarily.
P4CM has shared the gospel with people all over the world through their Internet testimonials and Ex-shirt campaign which is still going.
Locke High School will play host to a National Black HIV AIDS Awareness event Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. that will include an interactive educational theatrical performance called “What Goes Around.”
Members of the Kaiser Educational Theater will perform in the play which is designed to raise awareness about HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and help young people understand what are the best choices to make and how to do so.
