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TULSA, Okla. — With STI rates rising among young people in Tulsa County, local organizations are taking action during National STI Awareness Month to provide education and resources for teens and young adults.
According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, in 2022 nearly 45% of diagnosed Gonorrhea cases and 60% of Chlamydia cases in Tulsa County occurred within the 15-24- year-old age groups.
Amplify Youth Health Collective works to expand sexual health resources for youth in Tulsa, and they say more education, expanded access to clinical services, and STI stigma reduction are needed to help young people be healthy and lower STI rates.
“Tulsa stands at the center of a growing public health crisis, with our state being among the hardest hit by HIV and rising STI rates,” said Heather Duvall, executive director. “Amplify and our partners are working to improve outcomes for young people, starting with stigma-free education and access to accurate sexual health information.”
As part of that effort, Amplify is partnering with other youth and public health organizations like Youth Services of Tulsa, Community Health Connection, and H.O.P.E. Testing to host the End the STIgma Block Party, a free event for teens, young adults and their families.
The End the STIgma Block Party will take place this Friday, April 25, from 4 to 6 PM at Youth Services of Tulsa, 3rd & Madison. There will be free food, games, sexual health resources, raffle prizes, and a live radio broadcast from 106.9 KHITS. Amplify and its partners invite all young people ages 15 to 24 to attend and bring a friend.