Condom machines: the latest in HIV prevention

Get tested, stick to one partner, practice safe sex: those are only some of the messages that health experts keep reiterating to the public in an effort to reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections. And today, the first phase of a project was implemented which will help people with at least one of those habits. News Five’s Kendra Griffith explains.

Kendra Griffith, Reporting
This morning two condom vending machines were installed in the bathrooms of The Planet nightclub located at the corner of Queen and Handyside streets. The initiative is part of the Strengthening Belize’s MultiSectoral Response to HIV/AIDS project financed by the Global Fund.

Elvis Requeña, Project Coordinator, BEST
“It is to basically set up non-traditional ways of trying to get people to use protection when they engage in sex. … Nightclubs, usually people are very sociable when they are socialising and have alcohol, so we thought that it would be the best place to roll out the initiative since people get a little bit cosy and more friendly when they are involved in this kind of setting, so that’s why we chose nightclubs to start with.”

According to Planet Manager Gerald Molina, by helping their patrons to practice safe sex they are doing their part to reduce the rate of infections.

Gerald Molina, Manager, The Planet
“We have this idea to make sure Belize start to change, start to be more healthy because AIDS is a really, really bad problem in this country.”

“When I go to clubs I try to make sure that I am always safe. Sometimes you meet somebody and you wanna you know—go out or whatever and in that hour you can’t buy a condom that’s why we put here in Planet, you know. We try to make Planet be the safe club in the whole country.”

Clubbers will be able to access the condoms, for a reasonable fee, when The Planet opens on Friday night.

Elvis Requeña
“PASMO is the organisation that is providing the condoms and they are providing the condoms to us at two twenty-five and the person getting the condom will get three condoms at two twenty-five.”

Vending machines—especially in Belize—can sometimes be frustration, but this one is not too complicated, although you will need to have exact change. After putting in your two dollar coins and a shilling in the slots, turn the knob completely to the right or left to deposit the money and release the condoms.

According to BEST project coordinator, Elvis Requeña, they have thirteen more of the machines that they plan to distribute around the country.

Elvis Requeña
“Everything is based on the reception that these two machines have at this particular club. We will monitor them over a six week period and look at how the response is and based on that then we will roll out the rest of the machine countrywide.”

The National AIDS Programme will have the responsibility of keeping the machines stocked with condoms. Kendra Griffith Reporting for News Five.

If you are interested in having one of the machines at your business place, contact the Ministry of Health’s National AIDS Programme at 822-2059.