23 June 14

Ending HIV

SOCCER BALLS AND CONDOMS

With the World Cup heating up and crowds flooding Brazil, health officials are taking advantage of the masses and spreading safe sex messages by handing out condoms offering counselling and rapid HIV tests.

“We can’t miss an opportunity like this… the fact that it’s the Cup lightens the mood a bit,” said a representative of Sao Paulo state’s STD prevention unit regarding rapid HIV tests.

“I had no idea this was going to be here, I just came across it,” said a man who received a rapid HIV test. “I wouldn’t know where to get tested otherwise, so this helps quite a lot.”

The initiative is part of the UNAIDS “Protect the Goal” HIV/AIDS prevention program and is also being offered in 11 other cities across Sao Paulo state where the visiting international teams are based.

Read more here.