(Mirror Daily, United States) – New York City’s Health Department has found a rather clever way to promote IUDs – intrauterine devices – as the better alternative to birth control.
The department’s new ad campaign addresses to the city’s female population in a poster: “You spent the night in Brooklyn. But you left your birth control in Staten Island. Maybe the IUD is right for you.”
This is only one of the many ads the Health Department is promoting in an attempt of raising the women’s awareness regarding the IUD. Featured on social media under the hashtag #MaybeTheIUD, the campaign looks to inform them on the low-maintenance but highly effective birth control alternative.
Carolina Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the Health Department, explained that the idea behind the poster is to teach women how convenient it is to have an IUD. It is a “whimsical” way to convey the message by illustrating it with a very common situation; spending the night in another borough is something highly likely.
The Health Department is focused on teaching women the importance of being informed about all contraceptive options. That’s why the campaign will be broadcasted on several mediums – online and subway ads, in social media and on a dedicated website – offering information about a full range of birth control alternatives.
Print materials and ads will also point to the importance of using condoms as prevention means against STDs and infections, including HIV. Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett stated that the woman’s right to be informed of her choices shouldn’t be tied to life circumstances or ability to pay, and that’s the why the campaign seeks to providing accurate information regarding reproductive health.
This campaign is part of a broader five-year project in which the Health Department will be partnering with community and advocacy organizations in order to open up the conversation on reproductive and sexual injustice in New York City.
According to Dr. Bassett, this is the first time a municipal health department starts to get involved in this way, something that’s cause for pride for leading the way.
The City University of New York (CUNY) is one of the Health Department’s main partners on this campaign, pledging to reach especially the young adults who have limited access to information and services on sexual healthcare.
Image Source: Brooklyn Magazine