Uruguay's Health Ministry on Wednesday launched a media campaign to raise women and young people's awareness against the spread of the Human Immune-Deficiency Virus (HIV) which causes AIDS.
The movement will involve radio, television, print and public advertisings using a slogan "Do It Right, Use A Condom."
Speaking at a ceremony to launch the campaign, Maria Luz Osimani, a Health Ministry director in charge of the AIDS-fighting program, said that in Uruguay there are two new infections in men for every new infection in women.
When the disease was first detected in the country, the ratio was nine men for every woman.
He said that more than 70 percent infections were via unprotected sex and the campaign aims to make condom use more natural and encourage young Uruguayans to discuss condoms with their partners and their friends.
Speaking on the same occasion, Maria Julia Munoz, the nation's health minister, said the number of women getting infected was a key concern of the campaign.
"We have not reduced the total number of HIV infections, although mother-child transmission has reduced because there is better pregnancy monitoring," he said.
The campaign is part of Uruguay's activities to mark the annual World AIDS Day that falls on Dec. 1. In Uruguay there are 10,324 people infected with HIV in a population of 3.4 million.
Source: Xinhua
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