Safe sex campaign to educate our youths

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6: A campaign by two Bermudians to encourage safe sex is taking place throughout June to coincide with International HIV Month.

Student colleagues Hafid James and Kara Simmons hope that their For A Cause campaign will educate the island’s youngsters about the risks of contracting HIV, AIDS and sexually transmitted infections and diseases while encouraging them to get tested before having sex.

A series of advertisements are now appearing every Wednesday in the Bermuda Sun, Bermuda.com, Bermuda Now, Royal Gazette and the For A Cause Facebook page and labels will be placed in bars and clubs around the island with the message that anyone can contract HIV.

As part of the campaign, James and Simmons will act as facilitators between young people, government and international bodies to help educate and advice them about the dangers of high-risk sexual behaviour. There will be T-shirts available with safe sex messages that will be worn by members of the community on June 27 — to coincide with Get Tested Day. The sexual health clinics on the island will have extra staff on this day and are encouraging everyone to go to a clinic and get tested — via a simple blood test.

Anyone who gets tested will receive a wristband that will grant them free entry to the campaign’s party at the end of June. The party hopes to raise awareness of safe sex while giving young people a good time.

James and Simmons explain the campaign in more detail:

The advertisements:

Simmons: “The adverts focus on the stigma of HIV — a lot of times in our community we believe that you can look at somebody and tell their HIV status. If someone is pretty or good looking some young people believe there’s no way they can contract it and make bad decisions by just using visual appearance to determine a person’s HIV status. The ads play on that — there is a model with a bar code on their body and someone scanning it with their iPad and a message pops up saying they are positive. The message is — you cannot just tell someone’s status that easily.

“It is not that easy — you need to take the time to go and get tested with your partner before you engage in sexual intercourse whether you are using protection or not because protection is not 100 per cent guaranteed to work.

“Because Bermuda is such a small population, we feel it is important to get this message out
because if a small number of people contract the disease, instead of eradicating it on our island which is what we would like to do, it could spread quickly.”

The labels:

James: “We have clear labels we will be putting up on mirrors in the pubs and clubs in Bermuda. They make you look at yourself and they say: ‘This is what someone that can contract HIV looks like’.

“This is just to show that anyone can contract it — no matter what age, race or sexual orientation. One of the goals is to make people think about their actions before having sex.

The education:

Simmons: “This is about prevention more than treatment. We have a link to our e-mail address so if young people have any questions, we have experts in Bermuda and the international community who they can talk to if they think they have an SDT or are worried about contracting it and to debunk any myths. We are acting as facilitators — we can send the requests for information to them and then relay it back.”

The bracelets:

Simmons: “We are encouraging people to get tested throughout the month of June. If you get tested in June you get a wristband which gives you free entry to our party on June 30. (See below for more details).

“Bermuda does offer free testing. The clinic is expanding its staff base on June 27 for International Get Tested Day which Bermuda participates in.”

The shirts:

James: “They are available on our Facebook page for $10. We are asking people to wear them on June 27 which is the Get Yourself Tested Day. Thanks to more sponsorship we can now put proceeds from the shirts to Star — the island’s only HIV/AIDS charity, which is affiliated with Agape House. (See below for order details).

The party: 

Simmons: “The 50 Shades of Red party takes place at Docksiders on Saturday June 30. It is called Red to coincide with the interntaional HIV colour — the theme will promote safe sex but it is not all about that.

“We will be giving away free condoms, information about safe sex, drinks specials that help with proceeds going towards Star.

“We will be doing a carnival Mardi Gras style party with body paint.

“If you wear red you will get a free drink. DJ Smokey and Rusty G from Vibe 103.3 plus a surprise DJ will provide the music. There will be door giveaways, a raffle and a great mix of Top 40 reggae, hip hop, R&B and soca.

“All proceeds go towards the Star charity affiliated with Agape House.

“Tickets are $15 unless you have a “Get Tested” bracelet.”

The Message:

James: “Think before you act. When you are young you have this invisibility complex and you are not worried about what you are doing and for most people having unprotected sex they are not even thinking about what this person may or may not have.

“It is out there — not just HIV and AIDS but herpes and any other SDI.

“Don’t just go and have sex because you can — wait until you are ready.

“Definitely, for anyone of any age, if you don’t understand the importance of having safe sex, then you are not ready for sex.”

Anyone wanting more information, looking to donate to the campaign or looking ot buy a T-shirt should do so via www.facebook.com/for a cause: safe sex campaign or by calling: 333-0032 or 535-0112.

• Phone: 441-278-6442 or 441-278-6487
• Hours: Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 11.30am and 1:45pm to 3:30pm.
• Location: Hamilton Health Centre

• Phone: 441-278-6442 or 441-278-6487
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:45pm (closed 12:30pm to 1:45pm)
• Location: Hamilton Health Centre