An AIDS awareness group is in Jackson in an effort to bring down STD rates in Mississippi.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is sponsoring what the group calls a condom nation tour. An 18-wheeler will make stops in 25 states over the next six months. They are targeting college campuses like Jackson State University.
AHF is giving away condoms and providing information on sexually transmitted diseases. So far, they have given away almost a million condoms in 12 states. The group is also asking businesses to lower the price. They say you'll pay a dollar in stores for each condom when it only cost 4 cents to produce.
"If we can give away condoms because they only cost four cents, why can't they lower their prices, because this is such a critical public health care issue. We have 48,000 new HIV cases, HIV diagnosis every year in the United States. We have 19 million new STD cases and that's just something that we can all work together to bring about change", said James Vellequette, Associate Director of the Condom Nation Tour.
AHF is teaming up with local groups to provide free HIV testing. The tour will be at Tougaloo College Friday night from seven to 9:30, and Saturday at Battlefield Park in Jackson from 10am until 2pm.
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