A file picture of a condom vending machine in Ranchi

Ranchi, June 9: If athletes can play it safe, why not everyone else?

The health department is planning to install condom vending machines at bus stands, railway stations, national highways and other busy areas in the state, encouraged by the positive response to its first such initiative at Khel Gaon in Hotwar during the 34th National Games in February.

Altogether 250 machines will be installed, including 50 that were provided to the state by the National Aids Control Organisation (Naco) prior to the Games. According to Aradhana Patnaik, the state director of National Rural Health Mission, which is looking after the project, the department has requested Naco for 200 condom vending machines a month earlier. “They have agreed to send the machines, which will arrive by the middle of this month,” she said.

Patnaik pointed out that the department had identified high-risk zones, where incidence of HIV/AIDS cases was high, and added that a few machines had already been installed in Musabani and Ghatshila to encourage safe sex among the people.

The vending machines will mainly come up at points on highways, such as dhabas and petrol bunks, where truck drivers halt, besides red-light districts and government health centres. “The aim is to increase awareness about AIDS and safe sex. Of all the groups, truck drivers and daily wage labourers in Jharkhand are most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases due to the migratory nature of their occupation. They also tend to have unsafe sex with multiple partners. Therefore, we will focus on these groups,” Patnaik said.

The health department has engaged 38 NGOs as TI (targeted intervention) partners for the plan. They are taking up field visits and interacting with people to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS. These NGOs will be responsible for installing the vending machines.

The machines will be equipped with area-specific language options to help users follow instructions easily. “For example, beyond areas such as Ghatshila which is close to the border, there is more Bengali-speaking people. So besides Hindi, instructions will also be displayed in local languages,” Patnaik explained.

She pointed out that the department had earlier considered providing free condoms, but had now priced them at Rs 5 each to stop misuse of the machines. “Our TI partners will maintain and refill the machines,” she added.