Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington and The Greater Washington, DC STD Community Coalition are sponsoring Valentine’s Day and National Condom Week (February 14-21) outreach efforts to stem the tide of increasing STDs in the District of Columbia.
The Greater Washington, DC STD Community Coalition will offer free syphilis and HIV screenings in a mobile unit at the corner of 17th and R Streets, NW from 8 pm to 2 am on Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14.
Perry Oakley of Different Avenues outreach team will be in Dupont Circle on Friday, February 13 to get the word out to young men who have sex with men.
Despite decreasing numbers of cases between 1995-2000, infectious syphilis is making a dramatic comeback in the District of Columbia.
*** Since 2000, infectious syphilis cases have been on the rise, predominantly among white males 20-49 years of age, who are most likely men who have sex with men (MSM).
****In 2002, the rate of infectious syphilis was 10.1 cases per 100,000 population, a 35 percent increase over 2001.
This high rate of infectious syphilis ranked Washington, DC as 10th among U.S. cities of 200,000 population. |
