A. Identification of Issues and Problems
Overview
The case is about people suffering from AIDS globally, especially in Brazil and India. In Brazil, almost half a million are affected with AIDS and millions more at high risk on acquiring it. This is due to the machistic society, where married man having marital affairs and woman not asking their husbands to use condoms because of fear of getting beaten and losing support. Also, the price of Condoms is expensive in Brazil compared to other countries. In India, 5 million are already infected with HIV 6 years after the first detection, which makes this country spreading the virus faster than in any country. But AIDS is not the primary concern due to other health problems. And some Indian states deny the existence within their areas. Tamil Nadu was the first stat is introduce AIDS education and awareness. The London International Group (LIG) is well known in its latex and thin-film barrier technology, which is used in Durex condoms. Durex is the only global condom brand and protecting its position by “feeling is everything”. LIG entered Japan with a joint venture with Okamoto Industries and promoting the Durex Avanti condoms, which is stronger than latex and can be made thinner and can make the experience more natural.

Identification of the Problems
1. Brazil
• Brazilians don’t like condoms, and females are afraid of getting beaten or loose support if they told their husbands to use it.
• Due to Brazil being a Catholic country, the church doesn’t tolerate the use of condoms.
• The price of condoms in Brazil is expensive compared to other countries.
• Most of the Brazilians are having multiple partners, especially for the males, Married or the youth.
• For the females, having HIV is the number one cause of death in child bearing.
• Most of the Brazilians, both male and female, don’t think that they are in risk in having HIV.
• In carnivals, there is higher usage of alcohol and may impair judgment especially in having safe sex.
2. India
• India is the fastest country to spread HIV having 5 million victims in 6 years since it was first detected.
• The states in India don’t prioritize AIDS prevention because of other health problems such as malaria and tuberculosis.
• Some states deny the AIDS problem, because prostitution and drugs doesn’t exist in their areas. They treat HIV as a western disease of decadence.
• The government hasn’t always able to meet the supply for condoms.

3. London International Group
• LIG is entering Japan. It is the first time that an international condom brand entered the Japanese Market.
B. Solutions
1. Brazil
• The government distributed free medicine and condoms and taught AIDS awareness especially in urban slums where the risk of having this disease is high.
Pros: It will decrease the number of infected people and risk of having AIDS.
Cons: Such program will require a large amount of resources and will need to train people.
• The public health officials in Sao Paolo state promoted the female condom to protect women and their children from AIDS.
Pros: It will decrease the number of infected people especially females and children.
Cons: The price of female condom will cost thrice the price of regular condoms.
• The family Health association made a petition to subsidies and cut taxes on condoms so that it will be accessible to poor Brazilians.
Pros: Cheaper condoms.
Cons: None
• Brazil’s Health ministry commits to distribute millions of condoms and free advices to prevent the spread of AIDS in carnivals where half naked women attract many spectators.
Pros: Same as other solution, it will decrease the number of infected people.
Cons: Will require a large amount of capital and will have to train people.
2. India
• The state of Tamil Nadu is training barbers to be frontline soldiers in the fight against AIDS. They give lectures and advices on AIDS and safe sex.
Pros: The method is Cost-effective and Innovative.
Cons: None.
• The state of Tamil Nadu introduced AIDS education in high school to increase awareness about the disease. The state is the first to set up a statewide information hotline.
Pros: It will increase AIDS awareness in the area.
Cons: Since the target is the whole population instead of the high risk groups, it will require a large amount of capital and Human resources.
• The AIDS fighters took advantage of the local culture to spread awareness. Some of the theaters are paid to screen AIDS awareness short before the main feature. In the country side where there are few theaters, movie mobiles plays music from well known movie soundtracks whose lyrics are re-written to increase AIDS awareness.
Pros: It will increase AIDS awareness.
Cons: Putting advertisements in theaters and in movie mobiles will cost money.
• With the funding of the State of Tamil Nadu, a nongovernmental agency trained prostitutes to spread information about AIDS and other sexually transmuted disease.
Pros: It will increase sexual awareness, especially in the customers of prostitutes.
Cons: It requires capital for prostitutes to be trained and they must be given incentives.
• The state of Tamil Nadu started sourcing condoms from other suppliers, but still condoms are too expensive to be given for free. The barbers will distribute a two-condom pleasure pack for 2 rupees and they will have a 25 percent commission.
Pros: The government will be able to meet the demand for condoms due to the 2 rupees per pack that will cushion the cost.
Cons: This did not attract many barbers, 30 percent of them refused to participate.
3. London International Group
• LIG focuses on education, sponsoring events and other educational initiatives to disseminate the safer sex message to governments, opinion formers and educators worldwide.
Pros: It will spread AIDS awareness worldwide.
Cons: Acting worldwide will require a large amount of capital.
• LIG had a joint venture with Okamoto industries and will launch the Durex Avanti, which is made from duron, an element twice as strong as latex.
Pros: Okamoto Industries will help LIG to penetrate the Japanese Market. The Durex Avanti is thinner than any other condom and is durable and safe.
Cons: Decreased share due to joint venture.
C. Recommendations
1. Prevention is better than cure.
Brazil did a great job in decreasing the number of people infected with AIDS. But they could always improve their methods to be efficient and cost effective, such as giving seminars in different locations about family planning and safe sex. The Brazilians should be also encouraged to have a regular check-up if they are at risk. Early treatment will cost less than later treatment.

2. National AIDS Education The government of India should increase AIDS awareness to all the states. They should extend education, and distribute the condoms in all possible channels, not only in barber shops, to promote safe sex.
3. Cut/Remove taxes from condoms. This would be an effective solution that the government can make to contribute in AIDS prevention. Cutting taxes, or better, removing taxes on condoms will result to lower prices so that it will be available for poor Brazilians and Indians.
4. LIG opportunity in Brazil and India. LIG should promote their Durex Avanti in Brazil. Since the Brazilians don’t like to use condoms because of the unnatural feeling, the Durex Avanti will be good for them. The Durex Avanti is made out of Duron, which makes the condom thinner and doesn’t affect the sensation. The Indian government should contract LIG to supply them condoms. LIG should give a discounted price. It may decrease the profit of LIG but they will help in AIDS prevention in India. This will help to build their Corporate Social Responsibility. And as long as there is a mark-up even if prices are discounted, it will still be a fix income and a fix demand for years to come.