SCOPE: Brazil distributes free condoms to fight AIDS during carnival

Asian Economic News, Feb 14, 2005

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 7 Kyodo

Brazilian health authorities are distributing millions of condoms during carnival to fight the spread of AIDS.

''Get dressed. Wear a condom,'' is the slogan of the campaign, whose target is to remind people that condoms, known in Brazil as ''little shirts,'' should be worn if they want safe sex.

Minister of Health Humberto Costa launched the nationwide campaign to distribute some 11 million condoms during the four days of merrymaking which started on Friday.

Volunteers from nongovernmental organizations will distribute condoms to members of groups of street dancers and passers-by, together with leaflets on how to be protected against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

''I believe this campaign is very important because many people tend to get careless at carnival and then end up having sex with strangers without any protection,'' said Antonio da Silva, 28, as he danced the samba in a street together with thousands of people.

The Rio de Janeiro Municipal Health Secretariat has launched its own campaign to prevent the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmittable diseases during the carnival season.

''Only happiness is contagious. The Prevention Samba will catch you this carnival,'' says the slogan of the municipal campaign, which will distribute 600,000 condoms close to the samba arena where the samba schools parade and in other areas of the city.

The Catholic Church, which opposes the policy of using condoms to fight AIDS, has not made any official comment on the campaign in Brazil, the world's largest Catholic country.

The Health Ministry usually distributes 20 million condoms throughout the country every month, but authorities have decided to reinforce the campaign because they believe the carnival tends to increase the practice of sex.

''We intend to reach a target of one billion condoms distributed in the country annually,'' Costa said.

The main target of the campaign is sexually active people in the low-income brackets, who often lack information on how to protect themselves from AIDS and other STDs.

''Teenagers tend not to believe AIDS is a danger, so we should distribute condoms at schools,'' said drag queen Isabelita dos Patins, who has joined the nationwide radio and TV campaign.

Costa launched the campaign in Rio de Janeiro at the headquarters of the Cordao do Bola Preta (Black Ball Band), the most traditional carnival band, which every year draws over 50,000 people when it parades around the downtown area.

Brazilians are used to receiving condoms free of charge, according to a survey the ministry conducted, which concluded that 52 percent of the local population has been given condoms either during carnival or at public hospitals.

''The survey has indicated that 96 percent of the population is aware that condoms are the best way to avoid HIV transmission, but only 25 percent have said they use preservatives regularly with any partner,'' the ministry said.

The spread of AIDS has stabilized in Brazil, chiefly among homosexuals and bisexuals, but HIV transmission has been increasing among heterosexuals who have low schooling levels, chiefly women, according to the ministry.