Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, but International Condom Day is also another important day to take note of.
The world’s largest global non-profit AIDS organization, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) which operates in 39 countries with more than 860 000 patients in care, is gearing up to celebrate International Condom Day (ICD) on Tuesday, 13th February.
The key message remains that condoms are ‘Always in Fashion'. Regardless of how long you have been with and how well you think you know your intimate partner, condom use is critical.
Condom usage not only prevents the chances of pregnancy but also prevents sexually transmitted infections (STI’s), HIV/AIDS along with reducing the risk of cervical cancer and wart-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) in women.
Durex conducted a global survey amongst 18 - 24-year-olds and the disturbing result was that more than half the participants admitted to having unprotected sex at least once, re-enforcing the importance of spreading the message of using a condom when engaging in sexual activities.
To spread awareness around ICD and condom usage, especially with Valentine’s Day coming, AHF will also be hosting several activations and events, distributing condoms, educating the public on proper condom usage and conducting HIV/AIDS testing.
Condoms are under attack in the realm of global public health, with governments and international agencies slashing funds. This will most likely lead to more infections worldwide — but thankfully, International Condom Day is a way to reinvigorate the message that condoms are a fun and fashionable way to protect oneself and one’s partner while reinforcing the tenet that condoms should be available for free to anyone who needs them.