AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is making a case for Condom Emojis to help create awareness in the fight against sexually transmitted diseases on International Condom Day (ICD).
ICD, created by AHF and celebrated each year on February 13th (the day before Valentine’s Day), came about as an innovative and lighthearted way to remind people that wearing a condom can prevent pregnancy and STDs, including HIV.
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“It is clear the world is ready for a condom emoji, a statement by AHF on Friday says, adding that there were troubling statistics to necessitate the drive for “Rise of the Condom Emoji!” campaign.
“An estimated 1 million people worldwide acquire a sexually transmitted infection (STI) every day, and there are still 1.5 million new HIV transmissions annually around the globe.
“There’s no better time than ICD to turn the condom emoji into a reality.”
In addition to the emoji campaign, AHF country teams from most of its 45 countries of operation will host exciting and informative “Safer is Sexy” and “Always in Fashion” ICD events.
ICD festivities are always fun and a great way to remind the world that condoms remain the most cost-effective method for preventing sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, Dr Echey Ijezie, AHF Nigeria Country Program Director said.
In Nigeria, advocates will be joining AHF Nigeria in Calabar and Ikom, Cross Rivers State for a walk to create awareness and distribute free condoms, as well as provide free HIV testing to the people.
“This walk is in collaboration with the Cross River State Ministry of Health, while there is also a media component that sees safe sex education on airwaves. In Abuja, AHF Nigeria is partnering with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) for a night event on Valentine’s day to distribute free condoms and also test people for HIV.
“Also in Abuja, AHF Nigeria Girls Act members shall be reaching their peers with condom education and tips on safer sex practices.
“Across other AHF Nigeria states of: Benue, Kogi, Anambra, Nasarawa and Akwa Ibom, our teams shall be conducting free HIV testing and give out free condoms to the people,” the statement added.
AHF Chief of Global Advocacy and Policy Terri Ford said “It’s time we drop the stigma around condoms and make it easier to communicate about having safer sex. Introducing a condom emoji across all digital platforms would be a fun and creative way to do that. We must speak the language that reaches young people who are most at risk.”