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Thursday, 2 December, 1999, 13:29 GMT
China bans condom advert
Chinese authorities have banned the country's first television advertisement promoting the use of condoms to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. The advertisement was banned just two days after it was unveiled to mark World Aids Day.
State television first aired the advertisement from the country's Family Planning Commission on Sunday. It showed a cartoon condom fighting off the HIV virus. Health workers hoped the advertisement would be the first step of a media campaign to raise awareness of HIV and combat the coy attitude that many Chinese have about sex. But the State Administration for Industry and Commerce banned the advertisement after the second showing on Tuesday. A spokesman said: "The advertisement is not in accordance with advertising regulations." The World Health Organisation has said China needs far-reaching AIDS control to avoid widespread infection. 400,000 infected It is estimated that more than 400,000 people in the country have already been infected. However, Aids prevention workers complain that their efforts are being stymied by conservative government officials, who are deeply concerned that advocating condom use will promote promiscuity.
"Television advertisements are very important because their audience is very large. People in the cities and the countryside can watch them. We must find a way to strive to use television to encourage condom use." According to official figures, intravenous drug use accounts for more than 70% of HIV cases in China, while unsafe sexual contact accounts for less than seven percent. But health experts say the proportion of sexual infections could double in the next two to three years. |
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