Fala Leasiolagi, owner of the Island Stop & Go shop, who is distributing free Safe Festival condom packs, believes the move will attract more business.
The Safe Festival campaign is being run by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s HIV & STI Section, in collaboration with the American Samoan Department of Health and the Festival Organizing Committee. Its aim is to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted infections.
At the start of the festival, campaign organizers had intended to distribute 2000 backpacks containing packages of female and male condoms, factual information on HIV and AIDS, HIV testing, STIs, and safe sex, and other health promotion items, to participants through health briefings with each country delegation.
However, after the condom distribution was criticized by local Catholic Bishop Weitzel, the Congregational Christian Church asked that the condoms be removed from the backpacks to be given to around 800 artists housed at its Kanana Fou Theological Campus.
When Leasiolagi, heard this, he offered to help out. In fact, he says he was approached by American Samoa’s medical director, Dr. Ivan Tuliau, to distribute the condoms from his shop, which is handily located for festival participants staying at Kanana Fou. He immediately recognized it as a business opportunity, saying, “I’m willing to consider anything that will bring more customers through the door.”
However, it is also a chance to assist the festival organizers. “The entire community is helping the Festival Organizing Committee and this is my contribution. I don’t see anything wrong with condom distribution. I don’t see why they’re making a big deal of it. It’s for the safety of everyone.”
He said many of the people who come in for condoms also buy other goods.
While some people are shy, others are uninhibited.
“Some people take several packages to give to their friends who are too shy to come in. Some people come in, then go out until they build up enough courage and come back in again.”
