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Free condoms kick off new HIV prevention campaign
Being negative is good for you. Not when it comes to attitude but definitely when it comes to your HIV status.
By: Kirti, Citizen News Service
Delhi, India - July 20, 2009
Being negative is good for you. Not when it comes to attitude but definitely when it comes to your HIV status.
This is the message that a non-profit organisation is trying to send across with its new campaign aimed at creating awareness about HIV/AIDS. Under the ‘Love Condom and Stay Negative’ campaign, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will distribute one million free condoms to Indians and also urge them get tested for the immunodeficiency virus.
Terri Ford, senior global policy director, AHF, told the media a condom is the best tool to fight the spread of the virus because it is affordable and can cut the risk of transmission by as much as 85 per cent. “Efforts are being made to encourage the widespread use of condoms, community testing and universal access to antiretroviral treatment that can help in bringing down new infection drastically.
It is a new beginning to restore the condom's critical place at the front-line of effective global AIDS prevention and control. If a rupee can save a life, there is no reason why free condoms should not be distributed,” she was quoted by media reports as saying.
Besides encouraging the use of condoms, the programme for controlling HIV spread involves promoting HIV tests among those who already have the virus and putting them on therapy, educating the partners of the HIV-positive people about safe sex and busting myths about the disease.
The AHF has joined hands with HLL Lifecare Ltd, a government of India enterprise that is the largest manufacturer of condoms in the country, for the campaign. M Ayyapan, the chairman and managing director of HLL Lifecare, said the use of condom is a mere 5.3 per cent in India.
“Buying condoms continues to be a stigma in our country. The launch of the free condom campaign will enable millions in the country to stay protected from HIV infection,” he was quoted as saying. The company also manufactures other contraceptives such as female condoms, intrauterine devices, oral and emergency contraceptive pills, etc.
More than 35 million people are believed to be living with HIV worldwide. Every year, over 2 million lose their lives to the incurable disease. As many as 2 million fresh infections are reported globally every year.
- Citizen News Service
http://www.littleabout.com/news/24329,free-condoms-kick-hiv-prevention-campaign.html
