Sexually transmitted infections are prevalent in college communities and Peer Educators want to raise UNM's awareness.
Booths will be set up today by local groups and national organizations west of Zimmerman Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"April is STI Awareness Month, so we thought the beginning of April would be a good time to have an awareness day," said Lindsey Bolton, event coordinator.
There will be information about common STIs, and free giveaways, condoms and massages, Bolton said.
Agora Crisis Center, the Department of Health, National Abortion Rights Action League, Planned Parenthood, New Mexico AIDS Services and Peer Consultants from the Student Health Center will be among some of the groups represented at the event.
Although there will not be any STI testing at the event, resources for students to learn where to get tested will be available.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Free kits will include information about safe sex. Condoms and dental dams will also be handed out.
Bolton said one of the highlights of the day will be the New Mexico AIDS Quilt. The quilt is made up of squares from every family in New Mexico that has been affected by the AIDS virus.
Bolton said STI is the more preferred term for sexually transmitted diseases because it sounds less intimidating, Bolton said.
The most prevalent STI on campus is chlamydia, said Bennette Meyer, a nurse practioner at the Women's Health Center.
"Chlamydia is easily treatable with antibiotics as long as they are taken correctly and the infected person does not come in contact with the virus within one to seven days of treatment," Meyer said.
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, which affects the cervix and fallopian tubes in a woman's body and can lead to reproductive problems. It is a silent infection in men and women so it is important to be screened for it, said Connie Rossignol, of the Women's Health Center.
Meyer said another common STI at UNM is herpes.
"80 percent of the people infected with herpes are asymptomatic, which means they don't even know they have the virus," she said.
This is a problem because the virus can be transmitted without people knowing they have it and can also be transmitted to babies if their mothers do not know they are infected, Rossignol said.
"It is important for people to know how protect themselves," Bolton said. "We have this day so people can be informed and so we can let them know all of the resources that are out there."
