T & T Red Cross launches 'Faces' for Carnival and beyond

With the launch of the ‘Faces’ on February 6, the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society (TTRCS) has embarked on condom promotion as an additional arm in its HIV and AIDS response.

The campaign’s promotion of condom use is a new line in the Red Cross’ work with HIV and AIDS, which also includes advocacy, treatment and care. For some, it is a controversial line.

 “There has for a while been the misconception that the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross was an organisation not concerned with condom promotion. We think it is timely to set this straight, for we are concerned with the HIV and AIDS situation. We are concerned with saving lives and we are concerned for the young people in our society,” Elliot said.

The campaign uses the faces of six models, all of different races and genders.  The handwritten names across their faces give illustration to this unique HIV and AIDS campaign, launched in the midst of Trinidad & Tobago’s Carnival season. 

Faces, which has been launched in other Caribbean territories like Guyana, Dominica, Jamaica, aims to reach out to young people who are sexually active to take responsibility for their own sexual health: to protect themselves with a condom if they are having sex. The message is simple - You cannot tell the truth by looking at someone’s face. Protect yourself. Wear a condom.

“It is important to realise that young people are having sex and that they need to protect themselves.” said Margarita Elliot, who heads the TTRCS’ Health Department, at the launch. “Young people are featuring in the HIV and AIDS statistics also in this country. They need to know, that if used correctly a condom can protect against HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. We want to tell them this.”

The faces were chosen to signify that HIV and AIDS is a concern for everyone. Communications consultant Bernice Obasi, who assisted in launching the campaign across the region for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said: “We have a tendency to think that if we are good looking and nice we cannot have HIV and AIDS, and in this country, that we are too nice to talk about sex. But the truth is that 15,000 people in Trinidad and Tobago are living with HIV. That is the official numbers. Unofficially, this may be up to 40,000. One person with HIV is, however, one person too many.”

The rapso group, 3Canal, are amongst the ambassadors endorsing the campaign and two of its three members were present at the launch. “We are taking the time to be here today and to be part of this campaign because it is an important one,” said Wendell Manwarren. “It’s something we really believe in, and we know that you cannot judge a book by its cover.” Manwarren and fellow member Roger Roberts gave an  impromptu acapella version of their song, ‘Hello Neighbour’, to end the launch.

The Faces campaign will be rolled out with posters, tee-shirts, outdoor marketing, television advertisements and other activities.