February 10, 2017

FUNCTION OVER FASHION:  CONDOM DRESSES CREATED AS REMINDER OF NATIONAL CONDOM WEEK, FEBRUARY 14 - 21

Contact:
Jennifer S. Sexton
Jennifer.Sexton@flhealth.gov
941-624-7279

Port Charlotte, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County (DOH-Charlotte) is spreading awareness about practicing safe sex in fashionable way.  As part of an awareness campaign for National Condom Week, DOH-Charlotte will be displaying dresses made almost entirely out of condoms at Florida Southwestern State College at 26300 Airport Rd, Punta Gorda from February 14 – 21, 2017. 

In 2015, 402 positive STI/STD results were reported to DOH-Charlotte. This is a 15% increase from the previous year.  “There are 20 million new sexually transmitted disease (STD) infections each year, with half of them among young people ages 15–24,” stated Dr. Frank Lepore, Administrator for the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County.  “Floridians between the ages of 15–24 represent only 13 percent of Florida's population, but account for 64 percent of reported cases of Chlamydia infections.  These infections might have been avoided if condoms had been used.” 

The condom dresses are intended to help spark a dialogue about condom use, sexual health, and safer sex that might otherwise be awkward.  The dresses were constructed using approximately 400 expired condoms for each dress, and took approximately 30 hours to assemble.  A “price tag” on each dress reveals the true cost of unprotected sex:  STDs or unplanned pregnancies, and directs people to the interactive Condom Trail Map for Charlotte County where free condoms are available to the community. 

The Department of Health is grateful for area businesses that are willing to collaborate in efforts to provide condoms to the community to reduce rates of STDs.  DOH-Charlotte is also grateful for Port Charlotte’s JCPenney department store.  Store supervisor, Julie Kellum, donated the mannequins that are modeling the condom dresses.

Agencies can request to become enrolled in the Condom Distribution Program by disseminating condoms in their community.  To request services or for additional information please call Cheryl Adams at (941) 624-7200 extension 7265. 

The Condom Trail Map can be found at:  http://tinyurl.com/h9j8ubp  

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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