New York: Distribution of Free Condoms Soars in Recent Months

Community-based organizations and businesses that want to help promote male condom use in New York City can now order condoms and water-based lubricant through the Web. The city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene now distributes 1.5 million free condoms monthly, compared to 250,000 18 months ago, before www.nyccondom.org went online. Previously, organizations had to call the DHMH or 311 for the condoms.

Within 10 business days, DHMH delivers on Web orders up to 10,000 condoms, which organizations agree to distribute free. There is no limit to the number of orders, said Adam Karpati, acting assistant commissioner for HIV prevention and control. This year, 700 organizations ordered free condoms.

One of three condom distributors the city hired last year said he distributes from a handcart about 20,000 condoms a week to small businesses. Harlem, Brooklyn and the Bronx are especially targeted due to their high incidences of AIDS, other STDs and unwanted pregnancies.

At four cents apiece, DHMH spends about $720,000 annually on distributing condoms. AIDS is the third-highest killer of New Yorkers, after cancer and heart disease.

Without DHMH's support, the Harlem United Community AIDS Center would have to spend up to $10,000 annually on condoms, said Sara Gillen, HU's deputy director for prevention. Most of the nearly half-million condoms that Gay Men's Health Crisis distributes annually are ordered from DHMH's Web site, said Noel Alicia, a GMHC spokesperson.

Individual residents can obtain free condoms at any city health clinic. Female condoms are available by e-mailing DHMH at femalecondom@health.nyc.gov. From January to November, DHMH distributed about 408,000 female condoms.

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