Free condoms would be a sure shot way in helping the fight against HIV/AIDS, right?
The global charity AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) on 26 April 2017 did just that by launching a free, online condom store in India called Love Condoms, their intent being to reduce the spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS, as Better India reported.
The store is actually just an email address through which NGOs working in related fields can avail of this service.Dr V Sam Prasad, AHF Country Programme Director, India
The store will deliver the condoms at your doorstep and while the government distributes them too via free healthcare centres, activists argue that their quality is poor or the stock gets depleted much faster than it’s replenished.
The response to the service has been overwhelming, as Dr Prasad said.
We launched on 26 April, and in just three days we have got over 250 calls, 300 mails and we have been inundated actually. Our toll free numbers haven’t stopped ringing. We were trending for the longest time on Twitter the day we launched. From Kanyakumari to Kashmir; we are getting calls from every part of the country.
On their plans for the coming months, Dr Prasad said:
We are looking at reaching the grassroots level, penetrate into the rural and interior areas. Those are also our target areas and are important for us. We have been getting calls from various NGOs working in remote places asking for the packets to be sent to them.
The foundation has tied up with NGOs and is looking to associate with more organisations, to be able to reach a wider section of the population.
With the launch of this service, we have realised that there is a severe gap that exists between the supply and demand of condoms in the country. This service also offers people an anonymity, which they are readily embracing.
Condoms are the most effective way of preventing the spread of diseases and the organisation aims to make an impact with their campaign.
We have around 1.5 million condoms in stock with us right now and are targeting to get another 5 million for the year.
The AHF is trying to break ground on a taboo like HIV/AIDS, positively.
Call on the toll free number 1800 102 8102 to find out more or reach them via email at freecondomstoreahf@gmail.com.
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