While Chicago boasts some of the country's tallest skyscrapers and ranks among the highest for most sports championships, it also ranks highest for rates of sexually transmitted infections. In fact, Cook County ranks #1 in the United States for rates of gonorrhea, #2 for chlamydia, and #3 for syphilis.
In Chicago, youth aged 10-24 account for 63% of reported gonorrhea cases and 68% of reported chlamydia cases. While timely diagnosis can cure or treat STIs, accessing health care and comprehensive sexual health education remain challenges for young people.
So what are Chicago Health Corps members doing to help youth at-risk for STIs?
1. We provide comprehensive sexual health education through the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program. So far, our health educators have taught 400+ high school and elementary school students!
2. Our health educators are preparing for the Get Yourself Tested campaign, a nationwide promotion of STI testing and education for young people. Throughout the month of April, we will organize a volunteer STI testing event throughout select public high schools.
Although boasting the tallest skyscrapers and most sports championships may be accomplishments, our rank among other U.S. cities for rates of STIs should not be taken lightly.
This post was written by CHC member 
So what are Chicago Health Corps members doing to help youth at-risk for STIs?