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The San Pedro AIDS Commission will be responsible for maintaining and stocking the machines on a regular basis.
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Felix Ayuso signing the 2-year contract.
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In an attempt to increase awareness and promote community participation, the Ministry of Health signed an agreement on Tuesday with the San Pedro AIDS Commission to install three (3) new condom vending machines in San Pedro. These fully mechanical machines are part of the Ministry of Health’s initiative project of strengthening Belize’s Multi-sectoral response to HIV and AIDS. According to Elvis Requena, Project Coordinator for the Ministry of Health, “there are 15 total machines that have been distributed; San Pedro gets three, Belize and Cayo have received the rest. Our plan is to continue with this project and acquire more machines to be placed all across the country,” he stated. The machines have a capacity of six packs which hold three VIVE brand latex condoms each. To use it, one just needs to have $1.75 in its exact change, turn the knob after inserting the coin in the machine.
President of the San Pedro AIDS Commission, Felix Ayuso stated to The Sun, that whilst these machines are a new thing for San Pedro they have welcomed the initiative with open arms. “We all think it is a great idea for San Pedro, we want to encourage the community to practice safe sex and spread awareness on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and that this is not taboo, this is the way to do it.” The two year contract outlines the regulations of maintaining the machines and that after that period has expired contracts will be renewed. The San Pedro AIDS Commission will be responsible for maintaining and stocking the machines on a regular basis.
The machines will be installed at three locations: Jaguar’s, Amigos Bar and anyone wishing to have the last one established in their business place, kindly give Ayuso a call at (624) 9379. World AIDS Day, initiated by the World Health Organization in 1988, falls on December 1st each year.
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