We are Women: Taking Action against HIV/AIDS

This week Damien Center staff, clients, friends, visitors, and volunteers helped us honor Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day by participating in the Red Pump Project.

The Red Pump Project raises awareness about the issues around HIV/AIDS for women and girls by providing an online space for dialogue, education, and (you guessed it)--pictures of fabulous red pumps.

Well, since I'm not always following the rules, I turned Teen Damien's version into the Red Shoe Project, in order to include those ladies and men who wanted to rep this awareness day without high heels.

The result? Poses from staff members and tons of red shoes! The Testing Center is now green/white clinic meets kindergarten classroom, but our Youth Advisory Council worked really hard to help me pin up all the pics and facts that everyone colored for us.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), HIV/AIDS is the 5th leading cause of death in women in the United States, ages 24-44. This means that many women are contracting it in their teens (13-24 year olds, there's Teen Damien), not getting care, and dying. GIRLS, WE NEED TO GET TESTED. When we don't get tested, we don't know our status, and we don't get medical care when we need it.

The Red Pump(Shoe) Project was a great way for Teen Damien to raise awareness, but the conversation needs to continue after March 10. Let's be aware! Let's get tested! Let's care enough about our bodies to want them to be healthy.

According to the CDC, in 2006 15,000 women were diagnosed with HIV. There were 3,784 AIDS related deaths among women in that same year. Do yourself a favor; in 2012, don't become one of them.



Mackenzie
Youth Outreach Educator, Teen Damien