The acting minister, María Luisa Carcedo, has held a meeting with LGBTI groups and HIV and AIDS entities to coordinate the delivery of 60,000 kits with condoms that will be distributed free of charge during the Pride demonstration in Madrid, within the framework of the Bell # AlwaysPreservative of prevention of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
The 60,000 kits are made up of condoms and lubricants and will be distributed by six entities during the state LGTBI Pride demonstration that takes place this Saturday, July 6, in Madrid under the motto Elderly without lockers.
"The Ministry recovers with this first donation a historical measure of public health such as the delivery of condoms to entities for distribution free of charge," said Maria Luisa Carcedo.
The last time a condom donation was made was in 2012. Until then, the ministry regularly donated condom kits within the framework of prevention campaigns or marked days such as the celebration of the Pride or World AIDS Day.
On this occasion, the Ministry of Health, Consumption and Social Welfare makes the donation in the framework of the #SiemprePreservativo campaign launched a few weeks ago to promote the use of condoms among the young population in view of the increase in Sexually Transmitted Infections.
"The use of condoms is a fundamental public health issue," the minister insisted. And it is also the most effective way to prevent HIV infection and Sexually Transmitted Infections. "Therefore, from the Ministry we strongly recommend the entire population, but especially the young people, who always wear the condom and use it."
The minister personally thanked the LGBTI, HIV and AIDS entities for the daily work of activism, care and prevention that they carry out daily as well as their participation in the free distribution of these 60,000 kits of donated condoms.
In recent years there has been an upturn in STIs in Spain, in particular, gonorrhea infection rates have recorded a continuous increase since 2010. The largest increase has occurred between 2013 and 2017 with an average increase of 26% per year, according to the latest data from the study Epidemiological Surveillance prepared by the Carlos III Health Institute.
In total in Spain there were 23,942 reported cases of gonococcal infection, syphilis, chlamydia and lymphogranuloma venereum in 2017.
The meeting was attended by representatives of associations FELGTB, Cesida, Positive Support, COGAM, Foundation December 26 Y COLEGAS-Spanish LGBT Confederation.
On behalf of the Ministry, together with the Minister, the General Director of the INJUVE, Ruth Carrasco; the general director of IMSERSO, Manuel Martínez Domene; and the director of the National AIDS Plan, Julia del Amo.
The Ministry of Health, Consumption and Social Welfare thanks Control, Durex and Gautex for their collaboration in the donation of condoms.