I am ashamed to admit that even though I taught Brazilian Literature at one point in my years as a Latin American Studies teacher, that even though I speak Portuguese fluently, with a Carioca accent and can make myself pass, I've never been to Brazil. I am due though, because my love for all things do Brasil explodes every time I read something like this in the news:

Health officials in Brazil on Sunday began distributing millions of condoms ahead of the country's five-day Carnival in an effort to reduce the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, the AP/San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The Ministry of Health plans to distribute about 19.5 million condoms before the end of Carnival on Feb. 6, according to the AP/Union-Tribune.

Health Minister Jose Gomes Temporao during the launch of the condom-distribution program at a cultural center in Rio de Janeiro said the government has to "let society know the importance of prevention." According to a recent health ministry survey, about 80% of young men in the country reported using condoms, compared with 40% of young women.

The campaign is actually focused on getting women to demand condoms from their sexual partners. So notice all the fashion and coolness factors highlighted in the campaign:

1. The campaign is about having fun responsibly. If you go the campaign's dedicated website, you'll a condom getting bigger while your waiting for the flash animation to load. LOL.

2. The campaign visuals play off the Brazilian colloquialism for condoms, camizinhas. That's why the model wears a tank top throughout all the materials.

3. Over at the ministry's page on AIDS, they go into deep detail about the campaign :

• 100 million temporary tatoos were created with the phrase : "Tenho atitude. Uso camisinha." which means, "Ive got game. I wear a condom".
• 100 bandanas were also being distributed with the slogan.
• 700 thousand self-adhesive posters where produced to be posted in bathroom stalls all across the cities with the most carnival revelers.

The Ministry of Health is targeting women in the 15 to 24 age range because only 42% of young Brazilian women practice safe sex compared to 87% of their male counterparts. The consequences for this behavior are disastrous. For every 6 boys with AIDS there are 10 girls who have it. When looking at infections trends across all ages, for every 15 men with AIDS, there are 10 women who have it.

It's amazing the Brazilian government will go out of its way to do this but here in the United States we're still short changing our young adults with the short-sightedness of abstinence programs.

This country could learn a thing or two from the Brazilians condom awareness campaign. Or should we call Brazil's effort a condom AWEARNESS campaign?

Either way, bravo for them.