INDIA TARGETS 3.5 BILLION FREE CONDOMS TO CURB HIV/AIDS

By P. Vijian
NEW DELHI, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- With growing worry over the spread of
HIV/AIDS, India is stepping up condom advocacy by targetting to distribute 3.5
billion free condoms nationwide over the next three years.

India has nearly 2.5 million HIV/AIDS patients, out of which one million are
women, with many sufferers are aged between 15 and 49 years.

"We target to distribute 3.5 billion condoms to the male population. It will
be done through three million outlets before 2012.
"So far we have distributed 1.6 billion condoms," K. Sujatha Rao, secretary
of India's National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), told Bernama.

As part of the government's campaign to promote safe sex, NACO has installed
condom vending machines, which provide anytime access to quality condoms in a
non-embarrassing situation.

Over 11,000 vending machines have been installed in 10 states.

The government is expected to spend over Rp9.4 billion (RM700 million) for
the preventive campaign in urban and rural areas, especially in the interior
where more men are falling victim to the disease.

Given the fact that 87 per cent of HIV infections in India are transmitted
through sexual activities, condom programme is seen central to HIV/AIDS
prevention at the intervention level.

Sujata also said that there had been an overwhelming response for female
condoms, with 1.5 million pieces having been distributed nationwide.

-- BERNAMA