Brazil says it plans to distribute a billion free condoms next year as part of its fight against HIV and Aids.
The countrys Health Minister, Saraiva Felipe, said Thursday that the programme would be helped by the construction of a state-run condom factory.
Brazil – Latin Americas most populous country – says it will be the first factory of its kind in the world.
It also announced that it recorded a slight fall in the spread of the virus last year.
Overall, the number of new Aids cases fell to 30.886 in 2004 from 33.904 in 2003.
The number of Brazilians with the virus fell to 17,2 for every 100.000 people, down from 19,2 in 2003, the health ministry said.
Race issue
The department blamed racism for a marked increase in the proportion of Aids cases among black Brazilians.
– When a poor white and a poor black go into the public health system, the poor white gets treated better, said Pedro Chequer, who heads the government’s Aids programme.
He said the health ministry was about to launch an “Aids is Racism” campaign, to encourage black people to seek information on HIV and Aids.
Mr Felipe, who was speaking on the eve of World Aids Day, said his country was leading the way in promoting safe sex.
The federal government has already distributed millions free condoms as part of its Aids policy. Tens of thousands of people also have access to free anti-viral treatment.
Kilde: The Push Journal
