Female condoms to be distributed from Jan

Indore: Indore and Dewas are the first two districts in the state to be included in the female condom programme of the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO). Around 18000 female condoms will be distributed at subsidised rates in each of these districts every month from next month. The move is aimed at encouraging use of female condoms and to put a check on the sexually transmitted diseases including HIV. These condoms which are currently sold at a market price of Rs 100 per piece will be distributed at Rs 3.50 per piece under the programme. "We have roped in an NGO, Aashra, which will coordinate the entire condom distribution programme. Condoms will also be distributed through the associated social health activists (ASHA) door to door", joint director, health, Dr Sharad Pandit told DNA. Sources said that there has been an alarming rise in the number of female HIV patients in the state. It was owing to this reason that the state was included in the ambit of the female condom programme of NACO. "Protection from STDs is not only a necessity but it's the right of every women and the cheap accessibility of these condoms will ensure that they are able to exercise their rights", Pandit said. Till now only four states including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and West Bengal were included in the programme. Now Madhya Pradesh and Orissa have also been included. A training of the health workers, NGO workers and all the concerning officials which are to be involved in the programme has been called on December 6. With completion of the training we will start distribution of the condoms in both of these districts. At the maximum the service will be operational by January 2012", Pandit told DNA.