Salud a la Vida, the group responsible for the condom dispensers in bathrooms at Cal State Long Beach, hosted part one of a two-part health education workshop series for students Monday night at the social science and public affairs building..
As part of Latinx Heritage month, the Salud a La Vida workshop series is geared toward those in the Latinx community, although all are welcomed to attend.
Luis Angel Cendejas, a graduate health educator for Salud a la Vida, explained that the 18 to 24 year-old age range of the Latino community is the second largest ethnic population in the Long Beach area to be affected by HIV.
The largest group affected is the African-American population.
A grant to the Federal Agency was written by eight members of Salud a la Vida to receive funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. These members had to prove that money was needed to help raise awareness for safe sex practices for the Long Beach Latinx community.
Once the grant was approved, Salud a la Vida began to create interactive methods of sex education for the community workshops.
At the event, students played games such as “drunk sex” to help reinforce the practice of safe sex and remind students about the increased possibilities of contracting sexually transmitted infections when mixing alcohol with unprotected sex.
The game involved throwing rings over empty beer bottles. After landing a successful toss, the bottle was turned around to reveal an STD.
“I’m doing my part by informing people about safe sex because this game’s a [life-changer] and makes [players] think,” Hector Montes, a Health Advocate from Salud a la Vida said.
Salud a la Vida works hard to get their main goal and focus across: promoting safe sex, healthy partner communication, and cautionary drug and alcohol use.According to Tressa McCullough, a women’s health division registered nurse at CSULB,
approximately 40 female students a day come to Student Health Services for birth control; the college campus is sexually active.
By putting condoms in discrete areas, Cendejas said students can feel comfortable, stocking-up freely if opportunity presents itself.
“Approximately 35,000 condoms have been taken from these dispensers since last February,” Cendejas said.
“We found through research, the number of STD’s has increased on this campus, but giving condoms to students does not increase the chance of having sex; it only increases the chance of practicing safe sex,” Cendejas said.
The two major dispenser locations are found in bathrooms at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center and University Student Union on campus. Free condoms are also available in room SSPA-025.
“To get the better condoms, you must attend the meetings which are fun, interactive and learning,” said Cendejas. “ We also have female condoms because we believe in empowering women.”
Salud a la Vida’s next workshop will further expand upon sex education, including teaching students about condom use and correct application methods.