In 1999, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia presented the campaign Aids Attacks, Rubber Controls to the public. Its main purpose was to raise awareness of the danger of HIV infection and AIDS, for which there was no effective medicine or vaccine in the 1990s. Campaign main character, »oli gumica – rubber«, appeared on postcards, stickers and in a comic book, and in an interesting way promoted the use of condoms, which were included in the propaganda material.
The first patient with Aids (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) in the then Socialist Republic of Slovenia was diagnosed in June 1986. Aids, which did not reach epidemic proportions in Slovenia, initially most affected men who had sex with men, drug addicts and hemophiliacs. As late as the 1990s, the deadly disease became a manageable chronic disease with new drugs and with regular treatment.
The materials for the Aids Attacks, Rubber Controls campaign were donated by the author of illustrations and comic book Roman Peklaj during the preparation of the exhibition Health is Our Greatest Wealth.
