San Francisco Celebrates International Condom Day
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – San Francisco joined other cities and countries around the globe marked International Condom Day Sunday.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation handed out red-wrapped condoms at the Tenderloin Health Center, Out of the Closet, a Castro-area secondhand store and at the Eagle Tavern.
Dale Gluth with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation said they also offered free HIV testing.
"It's assumed that a large majority of new infections are spread from folks who aren't aware that they're HIV-positive," he said.
KCBS' Tim Ryan Reports:
Gluth said that one of every four people who have the disease in San Francisco don't realize they're infected with HIV and can go on infecting others.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation Director Adam Ouderkirk said there's really no good reason not to be tested with a simple oral swab.
"Many people are afraid of finding out. Many people are sure that it's going to be a death sentence for them, which it's not," said Ouderkirk. "With the current medications, most people do extremely well if they stay with their medications."
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 know their HIV status, to among other things, protect others.
(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
