Séamus Pattison
Question:49 Mr. Pattison asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to introduce a new publicity campaign on radio/television and in the national newspapers in relation to the dangerous spread of AIDS.
Written Answers. - AIDS Publicity Campaign.
The National AIDS Strategy Committee's recommendations, including those on education and prevention strategies, were adopted by the main Committee of which I am Chairman on 13 April 1992. Specifically in the Education section these recommendations referred to the need for a series of radio advertisements for Irish AIDS Day on 16 May and a bigger mass media campaign to coincide with World AIDS Day on 1 December.
A series of four radio advertisements were developed by the Health Promotion Unit of my Department for Irish AIDS Day and broadcast nationally at the time.
Plans are currently in progress to fulfill the committment for a bigger mass media campaign to commemorate World AIDS Day on 1 December. This campaign will serve to remind the public of the ever present threat of HIV and AIDS that currently exists and encourage the public to behave in ways which will reduce the spread of this deadly virus.