Condom-plating about safety?

The civic administration in association with Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust (HLFPPT) is gearing up to take an unconventional step by installing the Condom Vending Machines (CVM) at malls, lodges, public toilets, bars, pubs, etc. The project aims to boost condom use in the city and make it easily accessible to people.



Tushar Deshmukh, convenor of HLFPPT says, "The National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) has allocated 11,000 CVMs for the country and 3000 for Mumbai and its suburbs. About 1500 machines will be installed across the city in the first phase of the project, which is likely to commence in the first week of July. Later on more machines will be stationed in associations with Mumbai District Aids Control Society (MDACS), Maharashtra State Aids Control Society (MSACS) and Avert Society "



Deshmukh further explains, "The condoms were usually available only with the chemists, which remains open for limited hours. Later non-traditional outlets like pan-bidi shops, grocery stores that remain open till mid-night also started selling condoms. However, the issue of making the condoms available 24/7 remained un-addressed. It was then that the concept of CVMs was thought of. Besides making condoms available round the clock, this move will also help in eliminating the social stigma attached with condoms."



Speaking about the machines, additional municipal commissioner Kishore Gajbhiye says, "We are planning to install the CVMs by next month at places like restrooms of restaurants, shopping malls, cinema halls, sulabh suchalaya, railway stations, etc that are regularly visited by people. These mechanical machines are quite sophisticated yet simple to operate. In order to dispense a condom one just needs to drop a five-rupees coin in the automated machine. And as far as replenishing is concerned it will be done after every 15 days. I am sure that people will welcome this move."


Both, HLFPT and civic body believe that this move will promote condom usage, which is the only way to put a check on HIV/AIDS.