Last year’s swine flu outbreak on campus had students, faculty, and staff concerned about their health status. However, this year’s statistics indicate a healthier campus, which according to Project Director of Panthers Promoting Healthy Decision Gregory Rose is a sign that students use the Owens-Franklin Health Center effectively from issues like ant bites, to counseling and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.
Rose said, “This is good for us. Our aim is to reach students who have been tested and students who have not, as long as students understand the importance of getting tested.”
Rose’s program, Panther PHDs, aims to educate students about making good choices when it comes to their health.
Panther PHDs was founded on behalf of Minorities Education Initiative in 2005, a non-profit organization that funds sexual and health education programs.
The program offers free STD testing as well as condoms to students. Panther PHDs promotes sexual and personal health by encouraging all students to visit the health center.
From 2006-2009 over 3,666 students went to get tested for STDs. Of that number 1,975 of them were first time testers.
In 2006, PV had only 360 of its 8,006 students were infected with an STD, 417 of 8,382 in 2007, 432 of 8,203 in 2008 and 439 of 8,761 in 2009.
Between 2005-2009 only three students tested positive for HIV. In 2007-2008 one student was infected and from 2008-2009 another student was infected.
Although this year’s annual report is not complete, Rose estimates that about 300 students have come in to get tested and there has not been anyone who tested HIV positive.
Rose hopes that these statistics lay to rest some of the rumors that Prairie View has an epidemic of HIV/AIDS on campus.
Rose urges students and community members to come in and ask questions to get the facts about what’s really going on. On Dec. 1, there will be a free mass STD and HIV testing on campus.
There will also be a student town hall meeting about the health services on campus in the Memorial Student Center on the second floor in the ballroom at 6 p.m.
Students may ask any questions they have about health care and what’s being offered on campus.