Free condoms during Brazil's carnival

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 10 Feb 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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The Brazilian Health Ministry, in a public health drive, is giving out 10 million free condoms to carnival revelers. The aim is to help prevent the spread of AIDS.

On national radio and TV the message goes like this:
v 'Nothing gets through a condom. Use one and check it for yourself."

Mr Costa (Health Minister) said the campaign is aimed at highlighting how condoms can prevent AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases as Brazil prepares for the February 20-24 carnival, a week of festivities that includes parades with scantily clad women and sexually-charged parties.

But Mr Costa cautioned that the Roman Catholic church might oppose the campaign.

The Vatican has opposed the use of condoms, and recently questioned their effectiveness against sexually transmitted diseases.

The Health Ministry dropped its initial slogan -- 'You can have faith in it, use a condom' -- to avoid a confrontation with the church.

The campaign will use public billboards, including one showing a fish swimming inside a condom.

In one television add, one man pours beer into a condom to convince a friend that it can hold back anything.

The campaign was launched because a study last year showed 15 per cent of sexually-active Brazilians do not believe condoms can stop diseases, Mr Costa said.

Rio de Janeiro, which hosts Brazil's most famous carnival, will receive 1 million condoms. Sao Paulo, South America's most populous city, will get 2 million.

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