Philippines to promote condom use to curb spread of HIV and AIDS
Updated
The Philippine Health Department says it will promote the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS, despite disapproval from the Roman Catholic church.
Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde says the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS is different from their use for birth control.
He says the church's position is detrimental to public health.
The government will also encourage education on the topic and promote measures to guard against the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
Rates of HIV and AIDS remain low in the Philippines, but the level has recently gone up with an average of 29 cases detected each month in 2007 and 2008, compared with 20 cases a month in previous years.
