LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Safe |
by Sondra N. Arkin |
Plan Your Stimulus: CAMPsafe 2009
When we started planning the 2009 awareness campaign for CAMPsafe back in January, it seemed that the economic meltdown couldn't possibly last until our Summer launch. Even so, the whole "stimulus package" idea was tailor-made for the humorous HIV prevention and social marketing campaign that CAMP Rehoboth does in conjunction with Delaware Division of Public Health each year. Our multi-ad, postcard campaign focuses on protecting your most important assetyourselfwith our 2009 campaign: Plan Your Stimulus. Personally, my favorite part was being able to slip in a reference to Bernie Madoff. Plan Your Stimulus. Invest in Yourself. Minimize Risk. Try Our Recovery Plan. The CAMPsafe program was born out of the need to provide HIV prevention services to gay and bisexual men in eastern Sussex County. This effort has reached a record number of men who live in eastern Sussex County and those who live in and visit the community of Rehoboth Beach. Our desire is to create programs that address sex and sexual health in a positive light. For over 10 years, the safe sex prevention campaigns of CAMPsafe have taken a humorous approach to our six message points: 1) Always use a condom and lube (protect yourself from HIV and STDs) 2) Limit/get to know your partners 3) Know your status 4) Your judgment may be impaired from alcohol and/or drugs 5) Sometimes abstinence is the best policy 6) Being positive doesn't protect you from re-infection But these are scary times. The statistics show us that misinformation and bad behavior can still trump good sense. The numbers edge down slightly, but as fears rise, there will always be people living for the moment and without good habitsand without the sense of community that says, "I am my brothers' keeper." Each year, we struggle to keep the campaign amusingbut still have to learn about barebacking and PNP and how to condense the message to something that twitters and texts and comes across in an IM. We still have to say on every card, play safe, and have fun. And wear a hat. Each year, we think the statistics are going to get better, the habits more engrained, and the need for continuing our campaigns reduced. But there seems to be dwindling interest in our rescue plan. This article is appearing the week after National HIV Testing DayJune 27. CAMPsafe, with many health care service providers, offered free HIV tests while raising awareness about HIV/AIDS on that day. But one day is not enough. CAMP Rehoboth offers free HIV Rapid testing daily, and you get your results in 20 minutesit's fast, simple, painless, confidential, and accurate. The CDC recommends that everyone, ages 13 to 64, be tested for HIV as a routine part of their medical care, and individuals who are at high-risk (such as people who have unprotected sex or are intravenous drug users) for infection should be tested at least annually. The CDC also estimates that 180,000 to 280,000 people nationwide are HIV-positive but are unaware of their status. HIV counseling and testing enables people with HIV to take steps to protect their own health and that of their partners, and helps people who test negative get the information they need to stay uninfected. Have Fun. Play Smart. CAMPsafe. For information email salvatoreseeley@aol.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 19, No. 08 July 03, 2009 |