Free HIV tests for Kansas students

A student group in the US is aiming to raise HIV/Aids awareness by conducting free testing.

The 15 Seconds group will conduct their checks at the University of Kansas over three days, in conjunction with the Douglas County Aids Project and Student Health Services.

Jamie Bergman, president of 15 Seconds, told the University Daily Kansan: "A lot of people just are not really educated on the issue, and I don’t think students know how important it is to actually get tested."

The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that at the end of 2003, 25 per cent of people in the US suffering with Aids were unaware of the presence of the disease.

Infection due to unprotected sex as been highlighted as a high risk area by the CDC, with 80 per cent of women diagnosed with Aids infected by sexual contact without protection.

Around 200 people raised $16,000 (£8,000) participating in the Douglas County Aids Project Aids walk on April 12th. The event is the largest fundraiser of the year for the project.