'Before going away this summer, think!'

Make sure to take condoms! 

We forget everything when we are on holiday: our routine, worries, responsibilities, along with everything else.
This carefree time of enjoyment and frivolity creates the perfect environment for meeting new people, often leading to romantic and sexual encounters.

Before the summer holiday season, the Ministry of Health has teamed up with the Aidsberodung service of the Red Cross to relaunch its summer campaign to prevent sexually transmitted infections. The aim of this campaign is to remind young – and older – people of the importance of always using a condom when having casual sex. It also highlights the needs for frank and open discussions between parents and children.

The spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Around 2/3 of sexually transmitted infections are contracted before the age of 25. One in 4 new infections affects adolescents.

Over 20 sexually transmitted infections have been identified. The most well-known are syphilis, gonorrhoea, HIV/AIDS, mycoplasma genitalium, chlamydia, HPV (human papillomavirus) and genital herpes.

While most STIs do not cause directly visible symptoms, they can have serious health consequences (infertility following a chlamydia infection, certain cancers following a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, AIDS following an HIV infection). The spread of STIs is a concern in all parts of the world and the risk of infection may vary significantly from one country to another. That is why protection against these infections is more important today than ever.

Condoms: the simple weapon to fight STIs

Always using a condom when having casual sex can prevent sexually transmitted infections. The condoms that are available to buy in some countries do not always meet European quality standards. This is why it is important to think ahead and remember to take condoms with you.

With the slogan 'Before going away this summer, think! ', the awareness campaign comprises posters, post cards distributed in entertainment venues, 2 radio ads and a campaign online and on Facebook. It will run from 8 July to 4 August. Free packets of 'Don't forget me!' condoms will be distributed throughout the first 2 weeks of July.

Any institutions interested in joining the campaign can order posters, post cards and condoms – while stocks last – from the Preventive Medicine Department (Division de la médecine préventive) of the Health Directorate (Direction de la Santé), (phone: (+352) 247 85 569, www.sante.lu). You can also download them by clicking on the relevant item below.