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　　The Brazilian government will distribute 25 million free condoms to promote safe sex during the country's Carnival holidays, the Health Ministry said Monday.

　　The condoms, provided under the government's acclaimed anti-AIDS program, will be given out at health clinics and in sites like public squares and dances.

　　"It's that time of year when we boost distribution because of the increase in demand," an official from the Health Ministry's anti-AIDS program said.

　　Carnival kicks off across the nation on February 25, heralding several days of parades, parties, revelry and, for some people, sexual abandon. The Rio de Janeiro carnival is the best known worldwide but every big city has its own celebrations.

　　The Health Ministry said the purpose of the handout was to prevent the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Last year, it announced a plan to distribute more than 1 billion free condoms nationwide in 2006.

　　The Roman Catholic Church in Brazil -- the world's largest Catholic country -- routinely denounces such programs as encouraging sex and contravening its stand against contraception.

　　(Agencies)周一，巴西卫生部称，政府将在狂欢节期间向民众免费分发2500万只避孕套，用来宣传安全性行为。

　　政府所开展的抗击艾滋病项目深得民心，这些避孕套就是该项目提供的，将在卫生所和公共广场、舞会等场所分发。

　　卫生部抗击艾滋病项目的一位官员说："我们之所以选在这个时间分发是因为这段时间内避孕套的需求增加。

　　全国范围内的狂欢节将在2月25日开始，随后是数天的游行、舞会和狂欢活动。对于一些人来说，狂欢节还意味着无节制的性爱。里约热内卢的狂欢节在国际上享有盛名，但是每个大城市都有自己的庆祝活动。

　　卫生部称，分发避孕套是为了预防艾滋病和其他性传播疾病。去年，卫生部宣布计划在2006年免费分发超过10亿只避孕套。

　　作为全世界最大的天主教国家，巴西的罗马天主教照常谴责这样的活动，称这种做法鼓励性爱，违背了天主教反对避孕的教义。

　　(中国日报网站编译)