Rwanda Launches Inaugural Condom-Promotion Campaign To Fight Spread of HIV
Rwanda has launched its first nationwide condom-promotion campaign that aims to promote constant and correct condom use among all Rwandans as part of the fight against HIV/AIDS, AFP/Yahoo! News reports. The campaign also aims to reduce cultural and religious resistance to condoms and is aimed at youth, inmates, commercial sex workers, refugees, and clergy members, who generally do not support the use of contraception. Fewer than half of all Rwandans ages 15 to 48 reported ever having used a condom, a study conducted last year in the country finds. The study also finds that Rwanda -- which has a population of eight million -- has an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 3%, and prevalence in some urban areas is estimated as high as 7%. Agnes Binagwaho, head of Rwanda's National Commission for the Fight Against AIDS, said, "Each year, condom use increases, but Rwandans still don't use them enough." The commission said Rwanda will need more than 20 million condoms in 2006 as part of the campaign (AFP/Yahoo! News, 1/25).
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