HIV information packages distributed for Carnival youth parade

More than 1,000 information packages on HIV and AIDS were delivered to 15 schools by Curaçao Red Cross youth for the annual Carnival parade. The packages were delivered January 30, a day before the February 1 parade.

This Carnival project was organised through the umbrella body, the Curaçao HIV Network (CHN); the Curaçao Red Cross is a founding member of the network and has representation on its board.

It took four evening to distribute approximately 1289 packages to teenagers participating in the parade. Each package consisted of a CHN tee-shirt, an HIV information leaflet, Red Cross stickers, a Faces campaign flyer, two condoms and stickers promoting the “Papia Kumi” telephone service.

 Papia Kumi was re-opened by Doctors of the World in cooperation with the Curaçao Health Department. This free, 24 hour service was launched a few days before the Carnival period. All information related to reproductive health care can be obtained from operators who speak the four main languages of Curaçao.