Cote d'Ivoire's Internet Cafes Get Condom Machines

The government of Cote d'Ivoire announced Monday that it has started to put condom dispensing machines in Internet cafes. The project, funded by Belgium and supervised by the UN Population Fund, involves installing condom vending machines in Internet cafes in nine towns and cities across the country, a government official said. A packet of four condoms will cost 100 FCPA (US 16 cents).

Cote d'Ivoire has one of the highest HIV infection rates in West Africa: 10-12 percent, according to government estimates. Roughly 30 percent of young girls experience unwanted pregnancies, 76 percent of which end in abortion.

Belgium donated $760,000 to finance the condom distribution program, which targets Internet cafes in Cote d'Ivoire's interior over a period of 18 months. The project is part of Belgium's $2.1 million grant toward AIDS prevention in West Africa. The country gave $1 million to support family planning and sexual health clinics in Niger last year and $400,000 to finance similar efforts in Mali. The condom project in Cote d'Ivoire was delayed until last week by an outbreak of civil war in September 2002.

Cote d'Ivoire is still waiting to sign an agreement with the Swiss-based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. That agreement will release $91 million in grants to combat AIDS. The agreement was due to be signed in June, but was delayed by disagreement among government departments over disbursement of the funds. The agreement is now due to be signed in September, according to an official of the Ministry to Combat AIDS.

Back to other news for August 26, 2003