Canada: "Sperminator," "Wonder Vag" Comic-Like Characters to Reach Teens About Safe Sex

An online game, "Adventures in Sex City," is part of a new Web site established by the Middlesex-London Health Unit in Ontario to educate teens about STDs. The site sets up the game by saying, "In the dark of the night, Sex City is in a panic because of the terrible Sperminator, whose sole mission is to infect all citizens with various sexually transmitted infections." Visitors are asked to choose an avatar from one of four Sex Squad super-heroes -- Captain Condom, Power Pap, Willy the Kid, and Wonder Vag -- and answer 25 questions about sexual health as they try to best the evil Sperminator. During the game, visitors can also call upon the assistance of the Myth Maniac, an ally of the squad, who dispels commonly held myths about sex and STDs. Specialists at the unit worked directly with teens to create a resource that would capture their attention and relate important health information, said Shaya Dhinsa, sexual-health manager. To read more and access the game, visit www.healthunit.com/article.aspx?ID=15637.

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