AIDS activists seek better marketing of condoms
The use of condoms has always been a key factor in efforts to combat H.I.V. and AIDS, but getting people to use the devices is not as easy as you’d think.
Norman Garcia, Country Manager, PASMO
“Abstinence first and then if you know that it is going to happen then please go ahead and get the condom.”
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
That’s the advice given to any young woman or man who is thinking of buying and using a condom for the first time. The Ministry of Health reports that in Belize it is the teenaged population that is at risk from contracting HIV and AIDS.
Dr. Natalia Largaespada, Coordinator, Maternal/Child Health, M.O.H.
“Girls and boys start having sex at the age of eighteen but we know that we have girls pregnant from twelve years and so that is a fact that we have to deal with.”
The fight against HIV and AIDS has been a challenge for all concerned especially the Pan American Social Marketing Organization. PASMO has been conducting countrywide educational campaigns including the promotion of condoms in a variety of brands, colours and special available at over one hundred outlets.
The Got it, Get It promotional television campaign is one part of that effort. The plan is to have the logo placed at four hundred distribution outlets where customers will feel more open and comfortable when they go to purchase a condom.
Norman Garcia
“Once they walk in and they are able to see this logo they know that okay this person understands my situation, this person will assist me and they can get their condoms.”
“Which is encouraging young people to not be afraid. Somebody or store owners will not judge you based on our message that we take to the store owners in sensitizing them that when a young person comes into your outlet they are able to pick up their condoms and they won’t feel that they are being judged, being looked at funny.”
PASMO’s Country Manager Norman Garcia says of the one hundred and seventy-four outlets they have contacted eighty-five percent have posted the Got It, Get It logo.
Norman Garcia
“Some have flatly refused simply because they will say well, we simply cannot put ourselves out there like that so there are still some misconceptions and bad perception with the sale of condoms.”
In an effort to get as many outlets onboard today PASMO held a one day workshop. The session was facilitated by Kerry Singh, the regional marketing manager of Population Services International.
Kerry Singh, Regional Marketing Manager, P.S.I.
“I think that a lot of the older heads or the more traditional heads in society still frown upon condoms and condom use and I think what the situation in Belize calls for is a lot of stakeholders to really be in touch with the reality of the situation that is taking place out there with young people. I think not just Belize but Caribbean young people are having sex from as early as twelve, thirteen, fourteen.”
Kerry Singh says since P.S.I. initiated the Got It, Get It Campaign he has found a broad acceptance of condoms throughout the Caribbean. Singh hopes the results will be the same in Belize. Singh says P.S.I. will be producing localised Belizean TV ads that should be ready to air by mid November.
