AHF Distributes 500,000 LOVE Condoms for Valentine's 'International Condom Day'
By: AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Los Angeles, CA - February 18, 2010
AHF commemorated International Condom Day—an informal holiday observed in conjunction with Valentine’s Day, February 14th—with innovative and educational free condom distribution and safer sex awareness events in 34 cities in 15 countries around the world.
More than 500,000 condoms were distributed over the weekend—most of which were AHF’s own “LOVE Condom” brand that communicates the message: “LOVE yourself, LOVE your partner, LOVE condoms.”
"The success of AHF’s International Condom Day events around the world is a very important statement about AHF's commitment to global primary prevention. We are as serious about preventing HIV transmission as we are about providing lifesaving treatment,” said Michael Weinsetin, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “There seems to be a natural connection between condoms, testing, and treatment. Our message of ‘Love Yourself, Love Your Partner’ means protect yourself, protect your partner, get tested and stay well with treatment.”
“It is our hope that next year’s International Condom Day commemoration over Valentine's Day weekend could see an even larger international coalition effort," added Weinstein.
Among the events that took place over the weekend: in the United States, there was a muscleman-themed condom giveaway on famed Muscle Beach on the Boardwalk in Venice Beach, California featuring a 15-foot tall inflatable muscleman balloon. In Russia, AHF hosted several ‘Protect Your Love’ events promoting condom use and HIV testing taking place at popular nightclubs in several Russian cities—including Sverdlovsk Oblast where 165 people were tested. More than 3,000 people attended the event in Soroti, Uganda where 1,335 people were tested for HIV and more than 50,000 condoms were distributed. In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, volunteers distributed free condoms—and roses—at entertainment establishments, nightclubs and city parks. In Mexico, more than 130,000 free condoms were distributed in Tijuana, Mexico City, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas and other cities. In Swaziland—the African country with the highest prevalence of AIDS in the world—more than 110,000 free condoms were distributed. In addition, 245 people were tested for HIV with 83 testing positive—a prevalence rate of 34%. In India, AHF and partners distributed more than 74,000 free condoms.
"From India to Uganda to Russia to Mexico to Cambodia and Los Angeles, LOVE was in the air this past weekend and LOVE Condoms were in abundance. Hundreds of thousands of condoms were distributed along with free HIV testing services in many areas, said Terri Ford, AHF’s Senior Director of Global Policy/Advocacy. “What the LOVE condom demonstrates is that with a little creative marketing and colorful packaging, the low cost and highly effective condom can be brought back to the forefront of prevention.
Added Ms. Ford: “In these uneasy times of flat-lined HIV/AIDS funding, cost-effectiveness must become a top priority. There is no HIV prevention tool more effective than a 5 cent condom.”
In addition to the events described above, AHF International Condom Day events all took place in: the UNITED STATES in San Francisco, California; Chicago, Illinois; Ft. Lauerdale/Miami, Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana; MEXICO in Puerto Vallarta; Merida, Ensenada; Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl and Villahermosa; AFRICA in Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia; RUSSIA in Kazan, Sochi and Krasnoyarsk; KYRGZSTAN in Bishkek; UKRAINE in Kiev, Odessa and Odessa Oblast; ESTONIA in Talin, Tartu, Narva, Johvi and Idla; and LITHUANIA in Vilnius.
News coverage of the events includes articles in The New Vision (Uganda), News Track India and Phnom Pehn Post (Cambodia).
