AP Features, February 11th, 2007
Brazil's Health Ministry will distribute 10 million condoms ahead of Carnival _ a period of wild partying and lowered inhibitions _ in an effort to fight AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases in Latin America's largest country, the official government news agency said Sunday.
The AIDS prevention campaign will also include several nationally broadcast radio and TV ads, the official Agencia Brasil news service said.
"The idea of this campaign is to show that the joy that comes with Carnival must be accompanied by some precautionary measures," Health Minister Agenor Alvares said at a news conference in Rio de Janeiro.
The celebrations begin Saturday and run until Feb. 20.
The president of Brazil's Roman Catholic Bishops Conference criticized the government's decision to distribute condoms again this year.
"They think that's going to help, but I don't believe in that," Cardinal Geraldo Majella told local media Friday, without elaborating.
Brazil is the world's largest Roman Catholic country. Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to visit the nation of more than 185 million in May.
A 2005 survey released by the Health Ministry earlier this month showed that nearly a third of young Brazilians did not use a condom the last time they had sex because one was not available or they could not afford one.
About 15 million condoms have already been distributed this year alone, the Health Ministry said.
The ministry estimates that 600,000 Brazilians are HIV positive.
The country is known for having one of the best programs for combatting AIDS, hailed as a model by the United Nations. The government provides free anti-viral treatment to anyone who needs it, significantly improving the life expectancy of those infected.
Although Carnival will not officially begin until next week, festivities led by street bands _ or "blocos" _ were at full steam across the country on Sunday.
