New Product

India's First Customised Condom Launched

Family Health International (FHI) in collaboration with Hindustan Latex Limited (HLL) launched a ‘paan’-flavoured Aastha condom for use among the sex workers (SWs), recently in Mumbai. FHI is implementing the Aastha project as a part of the Avahan India AIDS Initiative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The launch of Aastha condom was done by Dr Sanjeevsingh Gaikwad, Director, Maharashtra Programme, FHI, and Ayyappan, Chairman and Managing Director of India's largest condom manufacturer, Hindustan Latex, by handing a pack of ‘paan’-flavoured condoms to representatives of sex workers in Mumbai.

This joint effort between FHI and HLL aims to increase condom usage among SW's including improved health seeking behaviour. "Condoms are widely considered as one of the most important tools to prevent the transmission of HIV. Correct and consistent condom usage with the regular and non-regular clients by sex workers to a large extent can prevent transmission of the STIs and HIV. We promote this key message regularly through our project outreach activities,” said Dr Gaikwad.

So far, the project has distributed 13.8 million condoms. Responding to the need expressed by SWs, various flavours of condoms were tested. The project developed a new ‘paan’ flavour keeping in mind the preferences of the community. A test of chocolate, strawberry, banana and ‘paan’ was carried and there was widespread preference for the ‘paan’ flavour. "Condom promotion is an important aspect in HIV prevention. Our country has taken several effective steps in containing HIV and AIDS. HLL, one of the world's largest manufacturers of condoms, is actively involved in increasing condom usage in the country, by offering a range of condoms for meeting the needs of different segments of the society,"Ayyappan said. HLL has also pioneered and manufactured wide range of contraceptives and healthcare products in the country.

EH News Bureau