BANGALORE: Going by the success of the condom vending machines (CVMs) installed in 50 `Nirmala Bangalore' toilets here, the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) has sanctioned 1,705 more CVMs to be installed all over the State.

The Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) will implement the project, and as was done earlier, the machines will be installed and maintained by Hindustan Latex Ltd. (HLL).

The vending machines will be installed in district hospitals, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus stands, cinema halls, bars and restaurants, `Sulabh Shouchalaya' public toilets and shopping malls across the State.

"NACO has allotted Rs. 100 lakhs for the implementation of the project for this year. We are in the planning stages and the machines will be installed this year," S.C. Dharwad, Deputy Director, KSAPS told The Hindu .

He said the NACO authorities were particular that the CVMs should be installed in 10 districts, but discussions were on to make the machines available in most of the districts in the State. "We are yet to identify the places where the vending machines will be placed. The district health officers have been asked to identify locations in their respective districts for the purpose. We will also seek the cooperation of the Deputy Commissioners so that they can help us in locating the sites for installing the CVMs," he said.

He added that busy places frequented by the youth will be kept in mind while installing the machines. Dr. Dharwad said the response to the 50 CVMs installed in Bangalore has been very positive. "We received feedback from HLL that they have to replenish the supplies quite often as a lot of people are using the condom dispensing machines," he said.

Since December last year, when the 50 CVMs were initially installed in the `Nirmala Bangalore' toilets constructed by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP), as many as 94,502 condoms have been dispensed through these machines. The numbers have steadily increased: while 11,700 condoms were given out in December 2004, close to 25,000 condoms were dispensed to users in various locations here in April this year.

These CVMs are mostly in and around bus stands, near hospitals and nursing homes, markets, busy public areas and railway stations.

The KSAPS has been advocating the use of condoms to promote safe sexual practices and to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. It has roped in Population Services International (PSI), a non-profit organisation, to implement a project for social marketing of condoms in rural areas.

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