Estimated worldwide HIV infections: 55 769 791 at 12.40pm on January 29 2004.
Public-service announcements featuring three ‘jive-talking, gaffe-prone condoms” that were produced by a group of volunteers from various Ottawa, Canada, production companies are airing up to 20 times a day on South African television, the Ottawa Citizen reports.
The Three Amigos are a trio of animated condoms whose 15- to 60-second adventures have gained ‘minor cult status” in South Africa.
Ottawa film and TV producer Firdaus Kharas has shipped 14 of the cartoon public service announcemnents to the SABC and is working on six more episodes.
In one episode, the condoms are strapped into a spaceship, as a female voice is performing an ‘increasingly breathless” countdown ‘that ends with a fizzle”, the Citizen reports. ‘No condom, no blast-off,” a voiceover says. Jill Kruger, deputy director of the Centre for HIV/Aids Networking in South Africa, said, ‘I anticipate that the Three Amigos will popularise condoms and lead to increased use.”
Source: kaisernetwork.org