Gerardo Hernandez-Moreno, top, and JaVarus HumphriesGerardo Hernandez-Moreno, a junior in biomedical engineering from Pelham, and JaVarus Humphries, junior in neuroscience from Montgomery, plan to develop a network of unbiased medical professionals to offer a safe place for inner-city youth to learn about sexual health and disease. They hope their Spreading Awareness project will challenge the stigmatization of sexual education.
“JaVarus and I were no strangers to poor sexual education in high school and worry that, if this continues, young people will be ill-prepared to deal with these problems when they arise in person,” Hernandez-Moreno said.
The problem is illustrated by the high rate of sexually transmitted infections in Birmingham, “where rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are nearly double the national average,” Humphries added. “We are hopeful that, by using an effectively prepared preventive program, as well as establishing a network of doctors and medical professionals, we will be able to educate young people in a very feasible and effective manner.”