The
United States Agency for International Development (USAID),
the Ministry of Health and Family, several non-governmental
and international organizations launched on Thursday, July
12, a summer campaign aimed to promote responsible decision
making, safer sex and contraceptive methods.
The
campaign, called "TAKE CARE NOT TO GET BURNED!",
will occur during a six-week period, July 17th through August
27th and will take place in various beach resorts on the Black
Sea Coast, targeting Costinesti and Mamaia.
According
to Denny Robertson, USAID Mission Director, "USAID is
very pleased to help sponsor this innovative program on the
beach. Young people can make much more responsible decisions
about their behavior when they are well informed. While people
are enjoying life at the beach, they can also make sure they
protect themselves from risks that could lead to HIV/AIDS,
other sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy".
Teams
of trained volunteers will be on the beach and in discos to
talk, and distribute brochures and condoms. There will also
be contests in discos with local radio stations to further
promote the campaign.
The
campaign is financed by USAID, the Ministry of Health and
Family through the National Center of Health Promotion and
Programs of the Institute of the Management Health Service,
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF).
The
campaign is supported by several NGOs including: Youth for
Youth Foundation Romania, Society for Education in Contraception
and Sexuality (SECS), Romanian Association Against-AIDS (ARAS),
and Population Services International Romania.
USAID
has implemented technical and humanitarian assistance in Romania
since 1990 and has committed in the past 10 years over $350
million to Romanian assistance programs. These programs include:
privatizate sector development, environmental management and
protection, democracy and local government, and reform of
the health and child welfare systems. USAID's health projects
focused on reproductive health.
NOTE
FOR THE PRESS: For supplementary details you can contact
Mrs. Susan Monaghan, USAID Senior Health Adviser, at 335.58.05
and Mrs. Ioana Parvu, National Center for Health Promotion
and Programs - Institute of the Management Health Services
at 252.78.34.
