Kenya marked International Condoms Day on Monday the 13 February with massive HIV testing, counselling and free distribution of condoms in Mombasa.
In Kenya’s second largest coastal city, over 6,000 condoms were freely distributed at a busy market in the town.
Medical officer at Mombasa municipal council, Swaleh Chidagaya who was the chief guest told those at the celebrations to take advantage of the many HIV testing units to know their status. “We don’t intend to test and know how many people are infected with HIV. We only want people to know their status and live without fear and anxiety,” said Chidagaya.
Mary Nyaguthie, regional preventative programmes coordinator from the AIDS Health Foundation (AHF) said the celebrations were aimed at educating people on proper use of condoms and other HIV/AIDS preventive measures prior to the valentine day.
“We need to tell society about the need to be careful and about proper use of condoms in this valentine celebratory mood. The day came strategically at a time when people normally get overwhelmed with love and mess up in the end,” said Nyaguthie.
In Nigeria, AHF partners coordinating International Condom Day events in Abuja, the capital city, and in the states of Kogi and Benue, distributed 23, 000 condoms and carried out 3,000 free HIV testing.
Information from Umlazi South Africa says there were educational talks during the road shows, HIV testing as well as free condom distribution.
In addition, the top 5 groups that took part in the AHF-sponsored ‘Superstar Hip Hop Competition’ last year helped attract attention and retain the crowds.
In Swaziland at the Manzini Bus Rank (main terminal), AHF partnered with PSI-Swaziland to promote the use of condoms. PSI identified bus drivers and conductors under its most-at-risk-population (MARPS) program, and the group was the main target of free condom distribution. AHF also targeted commuters and vendors in the market area surrounding the bus rank.
Over 36,000 LOVE condoms were distributed to people who participated in the promotion including transport operators. A further 100,000 condoms will be distributed in the local newspaper.
While in Zambia, the Ministry of Health teamed up with partners to stage a mobile HIV testing in Lusaka and distributed 100,000 free condoms.
In the USA, AHF kicked off its Condom Nation tour from California’s famed Venice Beach. The tour will end late July in Washington DC just before the opening of the International AIDS Conference.
Condom Nation is a 20-state, six-month nationwide tour of AHF’s specially-designed, 18 wheel big rig truck. The truck will stop in select cities in 20 states to hand 10 million free condoms, as well as safer sex information.
“Condom nation is a tour that we’ve created to give out condoms. Working with community partners we are planning to give out as many as ten million condoms,” said AHF’s James Vellequette, Associate Director.
“Condoms are the best way to prevent the transmission of this whole family of STDs. We will be coming to your town, we will give you four condoms and we want people to use them and share them with friends who are sexually active. That’s definitely part of the message we are trying to get out: Hey, there’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
The first stop for Condom Nation will be Oakland, California on February 17th and then on to Las Vegas, Nevada.