Although there are several perpetuated conservative opinions about the use, accessibility and availability of condoms, they have become important in reducing the risks of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV. Additionally, they are used as a method of birth control. With this in mind, there is no question as to the reasons why crowds of HIV and AIDS activists, researchers, health practitioners, and community workers (regardless of their age) would have gathered at one of six colourful distribution points to make a condom pin and pick up a shirt, some condoms or lubricant.

The Condomize Project is funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Durex, PSI and some other organisation, aimed at ‘distributing one million condoms and a variety of lubricants to the participants in a number of locations and events during the’ AIDS 2010 Conference.

Distributing one million condoms is an easy task at an AIDS Conference, given the fact that many still do not have easy access or cannot even afford to purchase one. And the best thing for many of us young people, they are made by Durex.

I was very impressed with the project and the exuberance of the volunteers who were helping participants make their condom pins and distributing the condoms and t-shirts. Personally, I thought their intention to destigmatize the use of male and female condoms was clear. The t-shirts and hundreds of condoms lying around the conference venue certainly made condoms look fashionably cool. However, I am not certain what activities were being done to ‘call for the world governments and donors to intensify access to, and demand for, quality condoms’.

Sadly, on Thursday, July 22, my impression of the Condomize Project changed. For the entire day, no t-shirts were distributed as they would be available at the condomize party in the global village later in the afternoon. Everything including the music at the event was good. However, the organisers and volunteers decided to litter the stage with condoms and throw bags, shirts and lubricant in the air. I must say, I have never been a fan of this sort of distribution style, even in situations of humanitarian interventions.

The idea of jubilant people pushing and jumping to get “goodies” is certainly not foreign. As such, while I choose not to participate, I could tolerate the whole act as I enjoyed the music, my bread and company of my two colleagues. On the other hand, the organisers were seemingly blind to the fact that people were standing, jumping, walking, and sitting on dozens of condoms. Any person with knowledge about the safekeeping of condoms would tell you this damages them. From an economic perspective, that would be a waste of a few dollars. And as an advocate, it begs one to question if those who really needed the condom would be fortunate to get them.

Condoms are an effective method of preventing HIV, but what is conceivably cool is not always the most effective method of distribution in reaching those who are most needy.

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Written by Jaevion Nelson – Director of Advocacy, Policy & International Affairs
Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network (JYAN) | www.j-yan.org