The annual event organized by AHF strives to promote condom use as a way to prevent new HIV infections and help partners protect themselves and their loved ones from sexually transmitted diseases. In many locations, condom distribution was accompanied by free, rapid HIV testing and AIDS awareness-raising activities.

THE AMERICAS

In the UNITED STATES during the condom celebration in Venice Beach, California, AHF kicked off an ambitious cross-country “Condom Nation” tour. From the famed Venice Beach Boardwalk, AHF advocates handed out condoms and then dispatched a specially outfitted 18-wheel truck on a six month, 20-state cross country tour to promote safer sex  and hand out millions of free condoms and safer sex educational materials. In many cities along the route, local community partners and the accompanying Condom Nation van will also offer free, rapid HIV testing to the public. Condom Day events were also held in Washington, DC, Oakland, CA and South Florida.

In MEXICO, AHF and partners distributed 180,000 condoms in 12 states. Numerous events organized in the country to commemorate the International Condom Day enjoyed wide media attention and were well attended by the public. The team performed 2,130 HIV tests and identified 38 HIV positive people, who were then referred to care. As part of the celebration the Government of Mexico indicated that it will donate 250,000 condoms to help support AHF’s condom promotion efforts.

AFRICA

At the commemoration of condom festivities in Lukaya and Kalunga districts of UGANDA,, in one day AHF tested 1,114 people and identified 136 HIV positive individuals, all of whom were subsequently referred to care.  The staff also distributed 14,440 free condoms. Numerous dignitaries from the Ministry of Health, Uganda AIDS Commission, the Parliament and the local leadership of Kalungu district attended the events. Dr. Akol, the Manager of the AIDS Control Program from the Ministry of Health, praised AHF -Uganda Cares in a speech, thanking the staff for their tireless work. AHF President, Michael Weinstein was also in Uganda and attended the celebration and the groundbreaking for a new AHF Uganda Cares treatment clinic in Lukaya.

AHF and its partners achieved equally impressive results across other countries in the Africa Bureau. In SOUTH AFRICA, staff organized road shows to mobilize the community in the township of Umlazi. At the conclusion of the weeklong celebration, the team had distributed nearly 29,000 condoms and tested 1,355 people, identifying 187 HIV positive people and linking them to care.

In Manzini, SWAZILAND AHF staff organized a media campaign and a dance competition to entice people to attend the condom distribution and testing event. The team distributed 36,000 free condoms and performed 417 rapid HIV tests. One hundred eight people tested positive at this event.

AHF ZAMBIA distributed 43,200 condoms and provided 1,120 free HIV tests to the public. During the commemoration 88 people tested HIV positive and were linked to care.

Hundreds showed up to mark the International Condom Day events around Kigali, RWANDA, where activities extended well into the night. The team distributed 25,000 condoms and tested 150 people. Two positive results were identified.

In KENYA,  AHF and partners from the Ministry of Health, the Municipal Council of Mombasa and the Salvation Army focused condom distribution and HIV testing activities on high-traffic areas of Kongowea and Emali markets in Kithituni and Mombasa. Nearly 90,000 condoms were distributed. Of 510 people who were tested at the events, three had an HIV positive result.

NIGERIA, a recent addition to AHF’s countries of operation in Africa, commemorated International Condom Day by distributing 12,720 condoms and testing 3,745 people over four days. Among those tested, 178 had an HIV positive result.

ASIA

In INDIA, AHF and partners organized a march and rally in the heart of a high risk brothel district in Delhi, India to commemorate International Condom Day. G.B. Road was specifically chosen as the location for the condom awareness march and testing event because it is the area of “legal” brothels, where rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases are high. The team distributed 2,500 condoms and performed 82 HIV tests, mostly among men.
AHF and its partners also put on an educational risk reduction magic show, which attracted hundreds of men in the area. AHF’s Senior Director of Global Policy and Advocacy, Terri Ford was in India and participated in the activities.

EASTERN EUROPE

In UKRAINE, AHF’s Eastern Europe team and volunteers conducted outreach to universities and other public spaces in Kyiv and Odessa. In all 9,788 condoms were distributed and 210 tests were performed. The organization also distributed 4,000 information leaflets and flyers about safer sex practices and HIV prevention.

The Estonian Network of People Living with HIV, a partner organization that closely collaborates with AHF in ESTONIA, distributed 10,000 condoms and 1,000 informational leaflets across five cities. The Network used this event as an opportunity to advocate for better access to condoms. The organization sent a letter to all members of the Estonian Parliament and the Ministry of Social Affairs asking the government to exempt condoms from a 20% sales tax in order to make them more affordable.

On the 13th of February, 8 Ukrainian volunteers, including Condom Man, distributed 2500 condoms in the streets of Kiev, near two different metro stations. Each condom was attached to a “Gest HIV Test” card with the address of the AIDS center where it is possible to get free and anonymous testing.

The students of Chevtchenko University (“Student Parliament”) gave out 1200 condoms in the corridors of their university and of the faculty of mathematics, during speed-dating event, games and a party that they organized. A game “The two parts of the heart” was set up to invite students to protect themselves and their partners.

In Estonia, condom distribution took place inmalls and in the streets of Tallinn, Tartu, Narva, Kohtla-Jarve and Johvi on the 13th and 14th February. In Kohtla-Jarve, near Narva city, condoms were given to hotels so that there would be condoms in every room. In Tallinn, condoms were brought to a syringe exchange center, in an MSM nightclub, and were distributed in front of the Parliament. The Estonian Network of PLHIV sent an open letter to the Parliament claiming for the examination of the removal of the 20% tax on condom sale in the goal ofprice reduction. The letter was sent to all members of the Estonian Parliament and of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

During a 4 day International Condom Day events in Nigeria, 3745 people were tested for HIV. We identified 178 HIV positive clients who were referred for Antiretroviral drug eligibility assessment.

International Condom Day – Nigeria

From February 10 to 14, in seven Lithuanian cities (Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Šiauliai, Panev?žys, Alytus and Marijampol?) in the movie theatres “Forum Cinemas” before COSMOPOLITAN movie premieres, a video clip was shown for the International Condom day. 20 volunteers distributed 5,000 condoms.  From February 6 to 14, together with Vilnius University and medical student’s corporation “Fraternitas Lituanica” HIV testing campaign was conducted. Volunteers distributed condoms and information materials, provided consultations about HIV, STIs and condoms. 210 HIV tests were made, 800 condoms, 800 information materials and 210 pens were distributed.  In February 14, in the Vilnius Rehabilitation Centre for the Deaf, a play about this day was put on for visitors and guests. 288 LOVE condoms were distributed.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and partners organized a march and rally in the heart of a high risk brothel district in Delhi, India to commemorate the International Condom Day on Feb. 13.

G.B. Road was specifically chosen as the location for the condom awareness march and testing event because it is the area of “legal” brothels, where rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases are high. The team distributed 2,500 condoms and performed 82 HIV tests, mostly among men.

AHF and its partners also put on an educational risk reduction magic show, which attracted hundreds of men in the area.

Reaching more than 1,000 women and young girls working in the sex trade in these run down apartment buildings remains a longer-term challenge. They did not appear on the enclosed balconies lining the street during the rally out of fear of being seen.

Often if women in the sex trade do go to get tested for HIV and test positive, their “madame” throws them out. The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that sex workers get paid more for sex without a condom.

AHF and its partners are working on new strategies to reach these at-risk women .