Carnival is condom season in Brazil, where the government has announced it will hand out 65 million free prophylactics to partiers this month. It’s an increase of 20 million from what the government hands out each month the rest of the year in Brazil, which has aggressive anti-HIV and -AIDS efforts praised by the United Nations.“In addition to the 45 million condoms we already distribute on a monthly basis, we’re increasing that amount this month so there can be enough condoms distributed at all the parties and events that take place during Carnival,” said Mariangela Simao, director of the national HIV-AIDS program in the capital, Brasilia.
All told, the country plans to spend roughly $36 million to purchase 1.2 billion condoms this year - making it the world’s No. 1 government buyer, Simao said. About 560 million free condoms will be available nationwide, or around three for each of Brazil’s 191 million people.
The prophylactics - distributed to state agencies who then hand them out - come in purple wrappers emblazoned with the message “Always use a condom!”
Church officials in Brazil, home to the world’s largest Roman Catholic population, have opposed the condom program.
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