HIV EDUCATORS PRESENT AT WALTHILL SCHOOL

HIV educators tell stories of women with HIV, outline HIV prevention.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WALTHILL, NE --- Walthill Public Schools middle and high school students listened attentively as they sat in the gymnasium on April 23 and HIV educators Denae Parker and Tiffany James narrated the true stories of two Nebraska women living with HIV.
   They told of childhood sexual abuse, alcoholism, and promiscuity. They told of being in relationships with alcoholics and becoming infected, of giving birth to a child with HIV, of raising that child and having to bury him five years later.
   After their presentation, Parker and James outlined ways to prevent HIV infection, stressing that abstinence is the only guaranteed way.
   Both presenters are students at Hastings College, a private University in Hastings, NE. They belong to a student group called PHIVE-O, short for Peer HIV Education Organization, which is under the auspices of Hasting Colleges Campus Health Services.
   Parker is a senior, majoring in Speech and English.She has been an HIV educator for two years. She became involved in the PHIVE-O, because she wanted to be able to influence people outside the community." James is a junior and majors in Psychology and Social Studies. Also an HIV educator for two years, she enjoys the opportunity to communicate about this issue people of many ages and ethnic groups.
   They were invited by secondary school counselor Pat Browning, who had a chance to see them at a cultural diversity program in Hastings. The presentation was videotaped and will air Monday, April 29 on Huntel cable channel 18 in the Walthill viewing area.