Asia needs billions of condoms

BBC NEWS ^ | Monday, 18 August, 2003 | unknown

[joesnuffy]

Asia 'needs billions of condoms' Asia is facing a huge shortage of condoms, heightening fears over the spread of the HIV/Aids epidemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Unless extensive prevention efforts are undertaken immediately, the region - which currently has seven million HIV/Aids sufferers - is set to become the epicentre of the pandemic in the next decade, the WHO said on Monday.

Asia is currently short of "billions" of condoms, the organisation warned, adding that at least 30m people could be infected in India and China by 2010.

WHO media officer Mangai Balasegaram said it was vitally important to promote the use of condoms across the region.

"Millions of lives could be saved by doing something which is very simple," she told BBC News Online.

According to WHO estimates, 24bn condoms are needed throughout the world every year - although only six to nine billion are actually distributed.

The WHO warning came ahead of a four-day regional meeting in the Lao capital Vientiane on the "100% condom use programme", a strategy to promote the use of condoms in the sex industry.

Condoms save lives. We need to vigorously step up promotion of this life-saving device to prevent millions of people getting infected Dr Giovanni Deodato, WHO representative in Laos

A substantial proportion of HIV infections in Asia are attributable to commercial sex, according to the UN agency.

China's sex industry alone needs 1bn condoms a year, the WHO said - citing research which shows that, at present, fewer than 20% of Chinese sex workers use condoms regularly.

Knowledge of HIV/Aids is also poor in China.

A 2002 survey by the China Aids Association found that, even in urban areas, more than half of those surveyed did not know how the disease was transmitted, or how they could protect themselves.

The WHO's "100% condom use programme" has already had a noticeable effect in Thailand, preventing a few million HIV infections, according to the organisation.

There have also been successes in Cambodia.

A record 20m condoms are said to have been sold in the country last year, and condom sales have risen by 200% in the last decade.

The 100% condom use programme is now also being piloted in sex establishments in China, Burma, Mongolia and Vietnam.

Similar projects have also been initiated in Laos and the Philippines.

"The fact that these governments are prepared to participate in the programme is a major step forward," said Mangai Balasegaram.

[joesnuffy]

so solly ....too many plicks

[dirtboy]

I guess it doesn't occur to them to try a Uganda-style program of encouraging people to quit screwing around with multiple partners.

[D. Brian Carter]

Tell 'em to go to any County Health Department or US college health clinic... free Lifestyles for everyone!

[BlueLancer]

"Asia needs billions of condoms"

[VRWCmember]

They think condoms save lives. In reality, zippers would save many more lives if they would make the same efforts to convince men (and women) to keep them zipped up.

[Agnes Heep]

China's sex industry alone needs 1bn condoms a year ...

Why don't they just manufacture them? Why are they asking us?

[proxy_user]

Shhhh...this is our chance to get one on Willie Green.

Can you imagine? A giant condom factory opens in South Carolina to supply the Chinese market--hundreds of new jobs.

We can trade 'em for toys and DVD players.

[ClearCase_guy]

We've outsourced our IT jobs to Asia. Asia is outsourcing condom manufacturing to the US. Some would say it's an even trade. Some would disagree.

[sticker]

"China's sex industry alone needs 1bn condoms a year ...
Why don't they just manufacture them? Why are they asking us? "

They assume that with clinton out of office there are that many around the White House.

[George from New England]

"Why don't they just manufacture them? Why are they asking us?"

The UN will take US money to pay US companies to make the condoms, why should the Chinese make them? The Chinese will only make stuff that we will pay for!

[Onelifetogive]

Asia is facing a huge shortage of condoms

I don't understand the supply problems. It seems to me that a given amount of latex can be made into way more "Asian" sized condoms than regular condoms...

[Agnes Heep]

Great, as long as they're going to pay for them! Somehow I get the impression we're being asked to do it out of the kindness of our capitalist pig hearts.

[Cobra64]

They should ring-up Firestone Tire & Rubber. They have excess mfg capacity since their sales are still down with the Ford Expedition fiasco two years ago.

[Sonny M]

Asia needs billions of condoms

Reminds me of a few fraternity brothers I had.

[Bacon Man]

Why don't they just manufacture them? Why are they asking us?

Well like missile technology not so many years ago, they have yet to develop the technology of the reservoir tip and with Clinton out of office, they have no one to buy it from with illegal campaign contributions.

[ko_kyi]

Do they really need billions or are they just bragging?

[Sonny M]

I don't understand the supply problems. It seems to me that a given amount of latex can be made into way more "Asian" sized condoms than regular condoms...

Now thats just mean. Funny, anti-pc, but mean.

I honest to god don't know if its true, and would rather never find out.

[Cobra64]

"...the WHO said on Monday."

I didn't think the WHO were still performing. Is Tommy still part of the group?

[Cobra64]

In reality, zippers would save many more lives if they would make the same efforts to convince men (and women) to keep them zipped up.

Well Prezident Slick couldn't manage that feat.

[glock rocks]

we should take em up on it...

make millions of em, bout 3 in in diameter and 14 in long... and mark all the boxes "small"