November 7, 2000 (PTI)
Cold drink vending machines are passé. The newest agenda on the health awareness list for India is the introduction of condom vending machines. The country is all geared to set up such machines at public places to create awareness about the condition and curb its spread, the Union Health and Family Welfare minister was quoted as saying.
AIDS is a major health risk in India and the current figures show that there are 3.7 million HIV positive cases in the country; India has been cited as a vulnerable zone for HIV/AIDS explosion. AIDS control programmes have been implemented in various states of the country by governmental and non-governmental organisations.
Such machines have already been installed successfully in countries like China, which spends a lot of money on contraceptives. These machines have been installed in places like college campuses, subway stations and public toilets in China.
The Ministry of Welfare reiterated that since no cure is available for the disease as of now, education and awareness are the only methods of reducing its incidence. The government plans to set up the machines in all the major cities within the next one year to promote safe sex practices among risk groups which comprise of immigrants from other states and unmarried youth.