Most people know that condoms prevent the spread of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Unusual campaigns to promote condom use are being launched in places where condoms are less popular. But in many parts of the world, condoms aren’t very popular. Here are five novel campaigns launched by nonprofit organizations and condom companies to encourage wider use.

1. A ring tone to remember:

In India, people stigmatize condoms and refuse to wear them because they believe only prostitutes must use prophylactics. Leave it to one of the world’s richest men to find a solution — the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated money for a national condom ring tone.

2. Perks you right up:

Ethiopians claim they hate condoms because the smell of latex sickens them. To combat the odor, DKT International, a United Sates nonprofit, created coffee condoms. These dark brown condoms allegedly (I’m not testing the products) taste and smell like the favorite coffee of Ethiopia — the macchiato, an espresso with cream and sugar.

3. Condom trees:

In western Australia, the rate of HIV infection is the highest in the nation. When public health nurses were looking for an effective way to distribute condoms, someone suggested trees. Young people in the countryside hang out under trees, so the shady spots are the perfect places for nurses to hang condom-filled canisters.

4. Scare tactics:

Perhaps some safe sex programs skirt the issue — unprotected sex causes HIV, which leads to AIDS and often death. The Tulipan Company launched its “Be Careful” ads in Argentina. Showing skeletons positioned in flagrante delicto, these ads make no bones about how important it is to wear a condom while engaging in coitus.

5. Spray-on protection:

Since his teens, Jan Vinzenz Krause struggled to find a condom that fit correctly. He thought the pursuit of the perfect prophylactic was hopeless — until he went to the carwash. Inspired by the spray-on soap and wax, the German Krause developed a spray-on latex condom, which he claims always fits perfectly and feels natural.

For the full article, please refer to http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/10/31/mf.safe.sex/index.html?iref=newssearch

Today the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced its latest prevention and treatment numbers, noting in particular that Global Fund-financed programs have put 2.3 million people on treatment for HIV/AIDS, 5.4 million people have been treated for tuberculosis, and 88 million insecticide-treated nets have been distributed to prevent malaria infection. In addition, more than 500,000 HIV-positive pregnant women have been treated to prevent their babies from being born with HIV.

These latest results strengthen evidence that investments during the past five years have resulted in the most significant progress ever achieved in the global fight against these three diseases. Recent evidence suggests that global mortality from tuberculosis is now declining, AIDS mortality among adults in several high-burden countries in Africa is declining, and malaria elimination efforts have made tremendous progress, with reductions in the number of cases and malaria-related child mortality falling between 50% and 80% in a growing number of countries.

Together, AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria kill about six million people per year. With grants worth $16 billion in 140 countries around the world, the Global Fund has become the world’s leading global public health financier.

For the full article, please refer to http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156875.php