LOS ANGELES — Trigg Laboratories, makers of Wet personal lubricants, is supporting World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, by donating more than 5,000 safe sex kits and samples to local clinics in nine cities.
An estimated 34 million people worldwide have HIV, with more than 1.1 million in the U.S. Among these, more than 200,000—18 percent — don’t even know they’re infected, according to CDC estimates.
World AIDS Day, launched in 1988, was the first-ever global health day. The annual commemoration provides an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV, and honor the memory those who have died.
“We’re proud to support World AIDS Day,” said Michael Trigg, founder and CEO of Trigg Labs, makers of Wet Lubricant.
The company has sent more than 5,000 safe sex kits and/or Wet Platinum pouches (containing a condom and Wet Platinum Premium Silicone Lubricant) to help raise awareness in the U.S. about HIV/AIDS.
“We hope our safe sex kits will increase public awareness to reduce the stigma associated with HIV,” Trigg said. “It’s so important to get educated, tested, and to know your current HIV status. Information is power and with that information you can protect others and get the proper treatment and counseling to live long and healthy lives.”
Since its founding in 1989, Trigg Labs has donated millions of dollars (cash and product) to more than 300 non-profit organizations worldwide. This year alone, the company has donated more than 250,000 safe sex kits.
For World AIDS Day 2013, Trigg has donated kits to the following organizations for use in their ongoing safe sex education and counseling, community outreach and presentations:
Lawndale Christian Health Center in Chicago; Northwest AIDS Hope at the University of Washington; Windsor Regional Hospital HIV Care Program in Ontario; Stepping Stones of San Diego; The Tweakers Project; San Ysidro Health Center in San Ysidro, Calif., Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in Tulsa, OK., Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in Palm Springs, Calif.; and Maui AIDS Foundation in Hawaii.
“We need to remember that HIV/AIDS has not gone away, and in fact, it’s still increasing among certain groups,” said Lauren Streicher, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of OBGYN at the Northwestern University in Chicago. “According to CDC statistics from 2008 and 2010, the overall estimated number of HIV infections remained stable in every age group and in all racial/ethnic groups. There were decreases among women; including African American women. However burden is still high among African Americans and men who have sex with men (MSM). There were sharp increases in youth, especially young African American MSM.”
