Cameroon: New Strategy to Fight HIV/AIDS
By, Elizabeth Mosima, Cameroon Tribune, November 3, 2006
The Scout Association of the University of Yaounde 1 has installed an automatic condom distributor in the campus.
The fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS in the campus of the University of Yaounde I has been a major preoccupation of the authorities of the institution and the student population as well in the last decade. In order to keep the lethal disease at bay, the Scout Association of the University of Yaounde 1, has installed an automatic machine, "Presso Express", for the distribution of condoms at the main entrance of the students' residential quarters. The machine which is a free gift from a humanitarian NGO known as UNFPA is part of the association's programme for the fight against HIV/AIDS in the university campus. The machine is placed on a wall of the university quite close to the campus police post. It is small in size and easy to manipulate. The automatic distributor can contain 36 packets of condoms at a time and each packet contains four condoms.
According to the instructions pasted on the wall, the customer inserts a CFA 100 coin in the machine and then pulls a small handle gently to retrieve a packet of condoms. Only one packet of condoms can be bought at a time. According to Andi Mboutou Paulin Alain, one of the campus police guards, they also take charge of the security of the machine as well as the campus. He said since the installation of the automatic distributor last Wednesday, November 1, customers have been flooding the place but most people prefer to buy them at night. According to him, not only students purchase condoms from the machine as it is not exposed to the public. "Many people, even non students buy their condoms from here. Some people find it difficult to go and buy condoms from stores around. So buying them here is an easy task for them," he said.
According to the director of students' activities at the University of Yaounde 1, Professor Nola Bienvenu, the installation of the automatic distributor was approved by the Rector of the University. He said the machine has come at the right time following the wide spread of HIV/AIDS in the various institutions. "I think for a humanitarian NGO to provide students with a machine for the distribution of condoms which is within the reach of the students and the fact that AIDS is very common in the students' milieu, is a laudable gesture," he said. The automatic distributor operates 24 hours per day and it is managed by the students themselves. The campus police ensure the safety of the machine to prevent acts of vandalism. It is the wish of many students that more of such machines be introduced on campus.
The Scout Association of the University of Yaounde 1 has installed an automatic condom distributor in the campus.
The fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS in the campus of the University of Yaounde I has been a major preoccupation of the authorities of the institution and the student population as well in the last decade. In order to keep the lethal disease at bay, the Scout Association of the University of Yaounde 1, has installed an automatic machine, "Presso Express", for the distribution of condoms at the main entrance of the students' residential quarters. The machine which is a free gift from a humanitarian NGO known as UNFPA is part of the association's programme for the fight against HIV/AIDS in the university campus. The machine is placed on a wall of the university quite close to the campus police post. It is small in size and easy to manipulate. The automatic distributor can contain 36 packets of condoms at a time and each packet contains four condoms.
According to the instructions pasted on the wall, the customer inserts a CFA 100 coin in the machine and then pulls a small handle gently to retrieve a packet of condoms. Only one packet of condoms can be bought at a time. According to Andi Mboutou Paulin Alain, one of the campus police guards, they also take charge of the security of the machine as well as the campus. He said since the installation of the automatic distributor last Wednesday, November 1, customers have been flooding the place but most people prefer to buy them at night. According to him, not only students purchase condoms from the machine as it is not exposed to the public. "Many people, even non students buy their condoms from here. Some people find it difficult to go and buy condoms from stores around. So buying them here is an easy task for them," he said.
According to the director of students' activities at the University of Yaounde 1, Professor Nola Bienvenu, the installation of the automatic distributor was approved by the Rector of the University. He said the machine has come at the right time following the wide spread of HIV/AIDS in the various institutions. "I think for a humanitarian NGO to provide students with a machine for the distribution of condoms which is within the reach of the students and the fact that AIDS is very common in the students' milieu, is a laudable gesture," he said. The automatic distributor operates 24 hours per day and it is managed by the students themselves. The campus police ensure the safety of the machine to prevent acts of vandalism. It is the wish of many students that more of such machines be introduced on campus.
posted by AIDS-Care-Watch at 10:24 am
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