LOVE Condoms Campaign

This is an advocacy campaign - a way to provide people with the information and the tools they need to stay safe and healthy. AHF's specially-branded "LOVE condoms" are eye catching, bright red foil condom packets with the word 'LOVE' printed on the wrapper, which is also printed with the URL "getfreecondoms.org". These condoms are being distributed for free in countries across the globe where AHF has existing partnerships and/or treatment clinics as well in other countries that have shown an interest and willingness to participate in the awareness and prevention campaign. This is only possible through AHF's coalition partnerships, including condom contributions from the local government and wide cooperation.

Campaign launches in the summer of 2009 in India, Swaziland, Lithuania, Ukraine, South Africa, Estonia, Thailand, Uganda, and Mexico featured large public events, echoing the original global launch earlier that year in Los Angeles, California (US). A kick-off event was held to declare February 13th World Condom Day, and AHF distributed 20,000 free Valentine's Day-themed "LOVE" condoms via its "LOVE Condom Mobile" along Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. The event took place at a prominent intersection underneath a "jumbo-tron" on which AHF premiered a fact-based 30-second television advertisement in which an actress and AIDS activist discusses the importance of condom use and HIV testing. One Mexico launch event featured speeches by AHF leadership as well as partner organisations. The Tri Gay Futbol Soccer Team fully participated, all getting publicly tested. Following the programme, LOVE condom t-shirts, hats, umbrellas and bracelets were distributed to the 500 people lined up to get tested. Testing was organised in a flow of group pre-test counselling, clients completing registration paperwork, lining up for open testing under a large tent, and culminating with individual disclosure counselling. And at the South Africa launch, LOVE Condoms Campaign mobilised events on the streets of Umlazi - featuring the campaign's "CONDOM MAN" - in advance of the official launch event, which was highlighted with South African song and dance. Attendees included large public crowds, including Municipality and Departments of Health Officials, younger and older traditional healers, other partners, and the media.

In addition to providing the Campaign Commitment Form for ordering free LOVE Condoms, or the Campaign Endorsement Form if not ordering condoms, the campaign website also provides interactive links to the following resources:

• Downloadable, official LOVE Condom logo artwork for T-shirts, balloons, flyers, brochures, and a custom-designed 3-Pack that can be used to create outreach materials by businesses in one's local community. These are designed as tools for enlisting the support of vendors willing to donate or provide outreach materials at reduced costs.
• Information about why and how to use condoms.
• Video, photo, and newsletter galleries highlighting advocacy efforts and success stories from campaign partners around the world.

HIV/AIDS.

According to AHF, "The simple formula for global AIDS control involves identifying those who are undiagnosed and linking them to treatment, which will render them less infectious. In addition, we must promote the only known method for preventing the sexual transmission of HIV: condoms. The aggressive integration of condoms into HIV prevention programs in the Netherlands and in Uganda was highly effective in bringing down the rate of new infections. Noting the community norm that existed in the gay community in the US in the 1980s, we know how effective condom promotion and distribution can be....There is new leadership in Washington vowing to base public health initiatives on science..."

AHF argues that "Condoms cost about 3 cents each and are relatively easy to use. They are almost 100% effective when used correctly....Many studies show that most people who know they are positive want to protect their partners. Lack of availability of condoms and their retail cost are significant factors in failure to use condoms. Combined efforts that include encouraging the widespread use of condoms, mass testing and universal access to antiretroviral treatment will bring new infections down drastically."