Chennai: Condoms sell like never before

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Condoms sell like never before

Sunday November 12 2006 00:00 IST

CHENNAI: Condom sales have touched new heights in the metro. Induced

by increased awareness on safe sex and risk perception of HIV/AIDS,

the sale of condoms in the city touched the one-crore mark in 2005-

2006, showing that innovative strategies adopted to make condoms

more accessible and the aggressive campaigning by organisations

involved in HIV/AIDS prevention has indeed been fruitful.

Condoms are now available at cinema theatres, petrol bunks, public

toilets, bus stands, railway stations and lorry parking sheds.

In 2005-2006 (till September), around 1.28 crore condoms were sold

by various organisations when compared to around 68 lakh in 2004-

2005. This year, 1.48 lakh condoms were sold between April to

September 2006 alone.

The Chennai Corporation AIDS Control Society (CAPACS) distributed

1,72,628 condoms from 2005-2006 (including those given away for free

or part of social marketing and through condom vending machines)

with 51,344 pieces distributed during April-September 2006 alone.

CAPACS promotes condoms in three ways - social marketing, through

Condom Vending Machines (CVM) and free distribution.

" Hindustan Latex Limited (HLL) is the main distributor accounting

for 80 percent of the supply. HLL has six sales representatives and

7,000 outlets in the city. Each sales representative sells 1,20,000

pieces per month, " said Arokiadurai, assistant director,

Condom Promotion, CAPACS.

Last December, CAPACS installed condom vending machines in different

localities of the city. Till date, there are 480 machines, which are

either Low Traffic Dispensing Outlets or Medium Traffic Dispensing

Outlets (which provide variants, including branded ones).

An average of 6,000 wallets (comprising four pieces) are being

supplied for the CVMs. " When the CVMs were launched here, the condom

sales was 3,818 wallets in December 2005. By March 2006, sales

touched 3,905 wallets, " he added.

CAPACS also distributed free condoms to the tune of 5 lakh till

September 2006. " Free distribution is carried out by outreach staff

and peer educators of NGOs to sex workers, injecting drug users and

Men having Sex with Men (MSM), " he said.

In addition, the Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres and

Prevention of Parent To Child Transmission centres also distribute

condoms.

" People have realised the importance of using condoms. The idea

of `no sex, no condoms' is working to a large extent. Our aim is to

create accessibility and availability. Now, condoms have been made

available at every kilometre, " Arokiadurai said.

The Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS) has enabled the

sale of condoms at fair price shops. " Condoms are available in

28,000 fair price shops in Tamil Nadu. This was started a year ago

and 36 million condoms have been sold, " said Supriya Sahu, project

director, TANSACS.

In Chennai, 1,240 fair price shops sell condoms. Sahu said condoms

are available at all health sub centres, primary health centres and

government hospitals.

Dr Praneeta Varma, programme manager, Research and WIP Intervention,

APAC-VHS said, " Condom usage is at 90 percent now. Efforts have been

on over the years to enhance people's capacity to understand the

risk and this would have led to the increased use. "

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