STD Crisis Requires Priority on Prevention
Washington, DC (January 15, 2009) — The National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) echo’s the CDC’s call for expanded prevention messages to stem the increase in sexually transmitted diseases among teens. “If we are serious about eliminating health disparities, then we need to focus on the burden of STDs that teen girls bear — particularly Black and Hispanic girls” noted, Valerie Huber, Executive Director of NAEA. “We must increase efforts to prevent the transmission of STDs, by providing accurate information and skill building tools implicit in abstinence-centered education to teens in all communities across America, but especially among those most at risk.”
The recent figures released by the CDC reported 19 million new STDs each year – almost 1/2 among young people 15-24. With upwards of 80% of those infected unaware of their status, diagnosis and treatment are vital, but a serious focus on primary prevention is critical.
“Abstinence-centered education provides teens with the skills to eliminate all risk of STDs, but fewer than 1 in 4 teens have access to this educational strategy”, continued Huber.
“Congress and President-elect Obama would be shortsighted and mistaken to remove even one of the tools available to reduce teen sexual activity and the transmission of STDs. We must increase efforts to attack the problem, rather than reducing the options available to communities. It’s time we got serious with this problem and put ideology aside. Let’s not censor vital information that has the potential of removing all risk of STDs among youth”, she concludes.
A full copy of the CDC 2007 STD report can be found at www.cdc.gov/std/stats07
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The National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) is comprised of leading abstinence educators and supporters who represent 1.5 million children across the U.S.
For more information: http://www.abstinenceassociation.org
To schedule an interview with NAEA Executive Director Valerie Huber, please contact Rachel Turner at 404-285-1876
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:Rachel Turner
404-285-1876