New holiday trees from the Alexandria Health Department are seeking to spread cheer while preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections.
A small, artificial tree in AHD’s clinic waiting room at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive) is decorated with about 20 to 30 sexual health items, including internal and external condoms, as well as fentanyl test strips. A second “condom tree” has been placed at Friends to Lovers Romance Book Store at 301 Cameron Street.
“I was just looking at some Christmas trees in the office, and I was like, ‘You know what would look absolutely beautiful on those, are some condoms,'” AHD spokesperson Eve Elliott told ALXnow.
All of the ornaments are functional and free to take, Elliott said. Staff did not pierce the condoms while making the decorations — just the foil wrappers.
Elliott hopes the trees spark conversations about STI prevention, and said they are AHD’s newest iteration in “a standing tradition of being creative and fun” while sharing information about STIs and contraceptives.
In the past, the department has given out items like “condom earrings” and used STI-shaped stuffed toys in educational presentations
“Alexandria and Northern Virginia STI rates continue to be a major health issue in our city, and it’s important that we continue to encourage safe sex, STI testing, and treatment to bring the numbers down,” Elliott said.
Alexandria’s infection rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis each surpass rates in Northern Virginia and across the state, according to 2023 data. The city also the holds the highest rate of HIV infection in Northern Virginia.
As part of AHD’s efforts to address sexual health, bathrooms in the Del Pepper center are equipped with free condom dispensers and sexual health pamphlets through the Department of Community & Human Services’ Wrap Up, Alexandria program.
Condoms are also available free-of-charge at Alexandria’s Teen Wellness Center clinics, located at Alexandria City High School’s King Street and Minnie Howard campuses, Elliott said.
AHD offers STI screening, testing and treatment in addition to a variety of reproductive health services, including pap smears and breast cancer screenings.
Residents can also receive STI testing through NOVASalud or the Inova Juniper Program.
More sexual health-related data is available to view on the city’s Health Data Dashboard and Sexual and Reproductive Health Data page.
