Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cresent Societies - 21 October 2003
Bijoy Patro in Kathmandu
The query came from a young man to a group of people sitting on a dais.
"You want them? I've got some here," a female voice retorted. "Stand up. Come here. Have one."
October 11 was the ninth time Nepal had marked Condom Day. The Himalayan kingdom is known mainly for its mystic appeal and imposing landscape. Not so widely publicised is the fact that the country is among the poorest in the world.
Many men are forced to travel abroad to seek work in an effort to support their families.
Condom Day coincides with their return home to celebrate the popular and most revered Hindu festival of Dashain, thus ensuring that the message reaches as many people as possible.
"Through Condom Day we hope to educate people about the importance of using condoms, both for family planning and for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS," says Umesh Prasad Dhakal, Director of health of the Nepal Red Cross.
"We have chosen the festival of Dashain so that we can reach the whole community, including migrant men returning home for the holidays."
And because it is holiday time, the organisers take care that the event combines education with entertainment. "We want to package the information with a dose of fun where health professionals and entertainers work together. We know for sure that this has contributed to changing behaviour," Umesh adds.
Condom Day used to be a Red Cross event. But things have changed. This year's event, with the theme 'Let's use condoms û it's our responsibility', had 60 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) participating with the youth department of the Nepal Red Cross taking the coordinating role.
The annual event allows people from all walks of life to talk about the use of condoms - without inhibition.
Activities this year included a myriad of public displays, including processions and rallies with people clad like condoms and carrying placards, puppet shows, street theatre, films around the theme of HIV/AIDS, concerts, dances, fairs, posters and pamphlets, games and competitions giving away packets of condoms as prizes.
Roving educators - men and women easily identified by tags, caps and special T-shirts, were also available to answer questions and distribute condoms.
While Condom Day has become an accepted, popular community event, this was not always the case. When it was first organised, the public was very sensitive and hesitant about public displays of and discussion about condoms.
"We realised very early on that it was important to de-sensitise people so that issues like HIV/AIDS could be discussed openly," says Dev Ratna Dhakwa, secretary general of the Nepal Red Cross Society.
"This is important because HIV/AIDS is associated with sex and any talk of sex in Nepalese society was considered taboo."
Through all the years of observing Condom Day, the Nepal Red Cross has helped ensure that it is no longer taboo to discuss sex openly in a Hindu society. The de-sensitisation of the issue has paid off, with discussion about matters relating to HIV/AIDS becoming far easier in Nepal than in many other societies considered to be more 'open'.
Something that B. D. Chataut, Nepal's Director General of Health Services acknowledged at this year's Condom Day. "There is a visible increase in the use of condoms and other contraceptives. We are breaking the barriers of silence," he announced.
Nepal's Condom Day could be a trend setter in the region. This year's event was observed by a guest from neighbouring India. Manish Choudhary, from the Indian Red Cross, was in Kathmandu to see how the Nepal Red Cross has managed to turn the events around the day into an effective tool to advocate safe sex.
"The Indian Red Cross has started a campaign against stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIVAIDS," says Manish. "But a conservative society finds it difficult to discuss issues surrounding HIV/AIDS because it is taboo to talk of sex."
Both India and Nepal are similar societies and have a common cultural heritage. "Yet, Nepal has managed to show how an imaginative idea can make a difference to the lives of people. Condom Day is a unique concept and it is something we would like to replicate in India," Manish adds.
Keeping silent about HIV/AIDS and sex is no longer accepted. Much of the credit for this change in attitude goes to the Nepal Red Cross Society.
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