SAAF launches sexy HIV campaign

Tucson – The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation is launching its first community- wide Social Marketing Campaign, asking the public to get educated, protected and HIV Tested. “Education and regular HIV testing play a critical role in being proactive in your own healthcare and ensuring that you are educated about the risks that may lead to HIV/AIDS”, Wendell Hicks, Executive Director.

Last year, SAAF was offered a one-time opportunity with the Stocker Foundation to apply for a grant that would push our mission forward, help increase HIV testing, education of HIV, and early access to care and services. SAAF received an award which is being used to develop a smart and sexy campaign that will really push the message of “playing safe”. The campaign uses a fun and sex positive attitude in its prevention messages to reach out to new parts of the community. It uses stories from strong individuals, who lead risky lives, but remain safe in sex. “Half of all new HIV infections are people under 25 years of age.

This number is staggering. However, with the right education people of any generation will not be at risk. One of the goals of the campaign is to specifically address our young adult population, to get their attention and ask for their help in educating their peers and parents,” Wendell says. The media directs the public to a new campaign site, www. playsaaf.org, which gives information about where and when to HIV test, how the test works, where to get free condoms, education and advocacy kits, and to learn more about the campaign spokes models. The campaign will also debut at the upcoming fundraising Runway Show, Möda Provŏcateūr, on March 7, 2010 (www.saafmoda.org).