Ministry of Health launches campaign to contain HIV progress

This year, the focus is on young men aged 15 to 34 years old.

Stop, think and use a condom. This is the slogan of the HIV campaign launched on Friday the 22nd by the Ministry of Health, which targets young men aged 15 to 34 this year. The data in the file shows that 73% of new infections in the country are recorded among men. Of the total number of new infections among men, 75% belong to the 15 to 39 age group.

According to National Health Surveillance Secretary Wanderson Kleber de Oliveira, this year's Carnival Blocks will feature "condom men" who will circulate among partygoers to highlight the importance of condom use. In total, 129 million units will be distributed, and 12 million already with new packaging, referring to electronic equipment, commonly used by young people. Preventive actions will be carried out in Salvador, Recife, Olinda and Rio de Janeiro.

"Regardless of sexual orientation, it is risky behavior that can often make our biggest and best carnival a sad memory," said Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta. "Let's have a great carnival, have a good year, and make a year of awareness of your responsibility to your body and to the bodies of the people you love."

HIT OF CARNAVAL

In 2019, the ambassador of the campaign is the singer Gabriel Diniz, music performer Jenifer, who promises to be the tube of carnivals in Brazil. Advertisements, according to the federal government, will be broadcast on television, on the Internet, on radio, on print vehicles, at airports and on billboards until March 5. "I'm sure Jenifer could even make stops, but Jenifer still asks to use the condom," the minister joked, quoting excerpts from the song.

Numbers

Currently, about 866,000 people are living with HIV in Brazil. Of these, 694,000 have been diagnosed, while 172,000 do not know that they are HIV-positive. One in five new infections occur in men aged 15 to 24 years.

Condom use in this age group, according to the ministry, is declining. In 2004, the index was 58.4% among those with potential partners, and in 2013 it rose to 56.6%. Among those with fixed partners, the decline was even stronger – from 38.8% in 2004 to 34.2% in 2013.

Young people aged 15 to 24 are also the least treated after diagnosis. The figures show that 44% of the 22,000 Brazilians diagnosed with HIV in this age group are not receiving antiretroviral therapy.