In an effort to ban the public demonstrations of the new home HIV test kits to older teens in city parks by Dr. Chittick and his team, the City Attorney’s Office in Virginia Beach is asking the state’s Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli for a ruling on the new technology and whether only licensed medical staff in state certified clinics can inform vulnerable youth and conduct the tests (see blog Attorney General Bias?)

Here is my take;

This dispute is more about politics than public health.  The city is concerned that the news of free demonstrations of public HIV testing is not good for the state’s largest city (population 442,771) and its reputation as its premier beach resort capital. Yet that is shortsighted vision.

With the region’s high HIV and STI rates (among the highest in VA and nationally respectively), its sexually active youth are at great risk. With so many young people visiting the area during the summer for fun and relaxation, more young people are being exposed to the dangers of HIV from unprotected sex.

Case in point:

We were allowed to hold a large public event at VB’s Mt. Trashmore on April 6 where public testing demonstrations were witnessed by hundreds of curious onlookers and the park’s employees. The tests were filmed by WAVY 10 TV news and scores of cell phone videos. Not one complaint was received. In early May, we informed the city’s Parks Department that we were returning to talk with teens (no schools had informed their students about the availability of the new kits).

Then the roadblocks went up. We answered a lengthy questionnaire with pejorative language about how do we “entice children” to take part!  Actually, we only approach teens 16 and older and then, after lengthy counseling, only test those 17 and above, the age required by the FDA.

On May 31 after weeks of waiting, we went back to Mt. Trashmore. An 18 year old youth Zach Hill freely consented to be tested. However, numerous calls and visits by park employees tried to squelch the educational demonstration (captured by us on camera). Ordered to cease and desist by the City Attorney’s office, we politely but firmly informed staff that we would ignore the edict. When WVEC 13 TV news crew showed up, the park employees immediately left. Fortunately, the young man tested negative.

I believe it is smarter if VB and all municipalities allowed trained Teen-Testers to educate their youth because schools, governments and too many adults won’t. Now on to Washington, DC.