On upcoming Saturday may 18th Sensoa takes part in the Belgian Pride in Brussels with a new campagneconcept for men who (also) have sex with men. The time that prevention were equal (and limited) to the use of a condom is over. Prevention means today a menu of opportunities which you can choose from, and that you can combine: condoms, PrEP (preventative use of hiv-inhibiting medication), regular testing and treatment for STD’s and HIV . The appearance of the new campaign is clearly sex-oriented.
“PROTECT, TEST, TREAT, REPEAT“, that is the powerful, positive and clear message of their new campaign! The standard of safe sex is thus reaffirmed so that men who have sex with men can have safe and happy sex.
The four concepts are shown against an erotic background and will be on display on all material (posters, condoms, t-shirts, stickers, banners …) that Sensoa use in their actions in bars, clubs, saunas and other places where men (also) having sex with men.
This new campaign fits within the Flemish prevention policy in Belgium that clearly catches on. It is encouraging that the number of HIV diagnoses is declining. Nevertheless, caution within and outside of the relationship is of course advisable. This campaign emphasize on this especially.
Combination prevention works
For two years in a row the falling figures of the new HIV diagnoses show that prevention is beginning to work. In doing so, SENSOA combine ‘ classic ‘ awareness about safe sex and prevention methods such as distribution and the availability of condoms and lubricant in gay sex establishments with new insights and possibilities.
So promote Sensoa the use of PrEP: that is swallowing HIV-inhibiting medication by people who don’t have HIV to prevent an infection with HIV .
In addition, they urge gay and bisexual men to get tested faster for STD’s and HIV. The faster an STD is detected, the faster it can be treated and the less it can be passed on.
HIV can not yet be healed, but the quick launch with medication has a double advantage: it is better for the health of the person with HIV and it ensures that the virus is suppressed, so that it no longer can be passed through sexual contact. That last message is sometimes translated as N = N (not detectable = not transferable).
Quick and dirtyThe new concept is clear, and the design is sex-focused. For an organization that talks about sex, this is also credible. The message of protecting, testing and treatment is complex. Especially at events where it is mostly revolves around seduction, dancing and having fun. That is why they choose short sex targeted messages (so-called ‘ quick and dirty’-stimuli), no ‘ slow and thorough’-incentives (e.g. reading and cognitive processing). In this way, the message of HIV, STD’s and safe-sex is better included, as people see the campaign pass on a Pride of a party.
These are translated into English terms. On the big events where they reach a lot of people is most of the public non-Dutch-speaking. Besides a lot of the Flemish men, who have sex with men, understands the English language.
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