, Feb 16, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- In addition to the massive distribution of condoms, health officials in the Brazilian state of Bahia announced they would be distributing the morning after pill during the upcoming Carnaval celebrations.

Officials said nine stations would be set up during Carnaval—a sort of Mardi Gras celebration in Brazil—where women could obtain the abortifacient pill.  The announcement has been met with harsh criticism from women, doctors and Church leaders.

Health official Tânia Nogueira claimed the purpose of the plan “is not to incite people to have unprotected sex, but rather to reduce the number of abortions after Carnaval.”  The distribution of the morning after pill will be part of the campaign officials are promoting with the slogan, “Don’t transform your desire into an undesired pregnancy.” 

Auxiliary Bishop João Carlos Petrini of the Archdiocese of Salvador criticized the decision and said that “while on the one hand there seems to be a concern about the people, the idea here is highly questionable, not only in its effectiveness, but also because it itself constitutes a form of abortion.”

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