In 1985 China encountered its first AIDS case when an infected tourist died in the capital city of Beijing. Since then China has had a front row seat for the progression of the HIV/AIDS epidemic as infection rates have skyrocketed from virtually zero to close to a million in only two decades. In 2004 the World Health Organization (WHO) reported the number of people (ages 0-49 years) living with HIV or AIDS at 840,000. The number of testing and counseling sites? As of December 2005 a mere 2,100.
However, in the last few years the Chinese government has recognized the growing healthy crisis and begun to take action against it. Sometimes this action even comes wrapped in a pretty rubber package.
On Thursday, July 12th China held its 4th Reproductive Health New Technologies and Products Expo in Beijing, which climaxed (pun intended) with an unusual bit of safe sex promotion – a condom fashion show.
While male models were not donning the latest in latex fashion and strutting their barely covered stuff, female models were doing most of the showing off, working the runway in condom couture.
Guilin Latex Factory, China’s largest manufacturer of condoms gave their utilitarian product a stylish makeover, transforming the usually boring contraceptives into works of literally wearable art. The fashion show featured attractive models expertly dressed in close-fitting, brightly colored garments like wedding gowns, bikinis, sun hats and glamorous evening dresses, all made out of condoms.
The show, which lent a bit of glitz to the oft under appreciated condom (“They’re not comfortable. They’re so expensive”), was intended to promote the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS. With the number of new AIDS cases in China continuing to rise at an alarming rate – from December 2005 to October 2006 new HIV cases rose an astounding 28% according China’s Ministry of Health – it’s about time the condom came into fashion.
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