Alliance Against AIDS holds condom workshop
It is estimated that seven to ten thousand people in Belize may be afflicted with the virus that causes AIDS. This situation has prompted the Alliance Against AIDS to host one of its first educational workshops since the organization was formed less than a year ago. The workshop, which is being held in conjunction with the Belize Family Life Association and the Pan American Social Marketing Organization, focuses on protection through the proper use of condoms. We should warn parents that the demonstrations conducted at the seminar were sexually explicit… and as a result so is our story.
Luis Martinez, PASMO Representative
“It’s important to use your finger tips when you open it because it is very easy to open and you can damage the condom. And then once you have it out, you have to make sure that it is not upside down otherwise it won’t roll and then you have to make sure you pinch the tip so no air will stay inside.”
Luis Martinez, PASMO representative and trainer for the workshop says the sessions will teach the participants, who come from various health organizations, how to effectively demonstrate to others correct condom use.
Luis Martinez
“PASMO is a regional project. We are working in all of Central America from Belize to Panama and our mission is to make condoms available throughout the region as a means of protection for HIV.
Basically in the morning we will be talking about correct condom use because mostly when condoms fail it’s because people are not using it correctly or inconsistently. And in the afternoon we are doing sales training because both B.F.L.A. and Alliance will be selling condoms.”
Martinez says although it’s the men who wear them, women need to know how to put on a condom properly, and they should know how to take it off as well. And as I found out that task is not as easy as it sounds.
Shelia Middleton, B.F.L.A.’s Education Director says despite the numerous public education campaigns Belizeans continue to have unprotected sex.
Sheila Middleton, B.F.L.A. Education Director
“Well some reason why people say they do not like to use the condom is that they lose their erection or that the condom is uncomfortable or irritating especially because condom is made out of latex and some women are allergic to latex. That would be a problem.”
Middleton says they plan to hold similar workshops to train their community health workers. The Alliance Against AIDS says today’s workshop was an important part of the preparations for their AIDS hotline which will be launched in two weeks.
