Brazil hands out record 11 million carnival condoms
Key points
- Brazil, one of the Latin American countries hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic, will hand out a record 11 million condoms to prevent the spread of the disease during its erotically charged Carnival festival when casual sex rises.
- With the pre-Lenten celebrations two weeks away, the "Dress Yourself" campaign is to remind revelers a condom should be part of their outfit, no matter how little they wear to parades and parties renowned for semi-nude, hip-thrusting dancers.
- Millions of Brazilians and foreigners flock to cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Recife for the Feb.
- The safe-sex campaign hits Brazilian television screens next week showing grinning celebrities waving condoms as they dance to popular Carnival samba tune, "What will you wear?"
Brazil, one of the Latin American countries hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic, will hand out a record 11 million condoms to prevent the spread of the disease during its erotically charged Carnival festival when casual sex rises.
With the pre-Lenten celebrations two weeks away, the "Dress Yourself" campaign is to remind revelers a condom should be part of their outfit, no matter how little they wear to parades and parties renowned for semi-nude, hip-thrusting dancers.
Millions of Brazilians and foreigners flock to cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Recife for the Feb. 4 - 9 festival. Crammed streets and close contact in tropical heat intensifies sexual relations, health authorities said.
The safe-sex campaign hits Brazilian television screens next week showing grinning celebrities waving condoms as they dance to popular Carnival samba tune, "What will you wear?"
Brazil, a country of 180 million people, uses around 1.2 billion condoms a year. The government wants to boost that number to 3 billion by 2008 through free distribution and manufacture of cheaper domestic products.
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
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