LAUNCH OF CONDOM DISPENSERS TASO MBALE LAUNCHES CONDOM DISPENSERS-PROMOTES SAFE SEX IN THE COMMUNITIES I always pass by after

visiting the market to pick a few condoms and ever since the box condom was put up, my husband has no more excuse like before when he told me he could not afford to buy condoms or that he forgot. I am using the condoms as a family planning method, I have 4 children with my current husband and I would not like to add any for the moment, narrates Nasike Agnes (not real names) a resident of Nashikaso village in Bunghoko sub county, Mbale district. Ms. Nasike is among the many locals of the area and neighbouring villages that are thankful to God that this innovation came up hence reducing the challenges they were facing to access condoms for both the prevention of STDs and STIs as well as un wanted pregnancies.

Left: Nasike pulls out a pack of condoms from the dispenser Right: A TASO counselor refills the dispenser with condoms during a visit
Wandawa Philip, a counsellor with The AIDS Support Organisation in Mbale asserts that the Organisation with the help of Civil Society Fund, was able to plan for over 100 Condom dispensers that have been placed in the different areas around Mbale, Sironko,Manafwa and If the financial support is realised to support this project more districts will benefit. These dispensers are part of the HIV prevention method adopted by the organisation to extend free condoms to the communities in order to promote safe sex.

Left: The LC1

chairperson (reaching out to the box) is briefed by a counselor on how to insert the condoms in the dispenser and how to use it.

Right: Up-close
with how the dispenser(s) looks like

Every two weeks counsellors from TASO Mbale meet different groups of people to teach them on how to properly use these condoms and the latest they taught people of my village is the female condom which many of us including myself had never heard about, says Mr.Malamba Muhammad the Local council chief of Nashikaso Village. He commended that it is a great initiative which will help curb the spread of HIV among the people of his village through practising safe sex. One counsellor usually visits with a group of entertainers and they educate my people about the dangers of risky behaviour like, having multi partners and un protected sex with many partners but the provision of the condom will practically help my people especially the commercial sex workers, he further noted.

Left: A boda
boda cyclist makes use of the service

Right: A youth
out of school picks a condom from the condom box (dispenser)

At the time of visit, TASO had put up three condom dispensers in Bunghoko sub county in three different villages that are a part from one another and the locals convinced us that over 20 villages benefit from these services as the dispensers are placed in trading areas where different people from the different villages visit over time. The counsellor in charge of the project Mr.Angiro Faustion mentioned that they started with these areas because that is where the people living at risk are dominant much as they are scattered in all other areas. He breaks it down that people under this category include; boda boda riders/cyclists, youth who have dropped out of school, track drivers, commercial sex workers, uniformed men and women like the army and police are also contained for this.

They refer to them as most at risk populations because of the nature of work that they do which for some exposes them to infections easily like the commercial sex workers who have multiple partners, the boda boda cyclists who sometimes work till late and track drivers who work in long distances hence the temptation to have extra partners they find during their travels. He however notes that much as provision of the condoms and behaviour change messages mainly targets
A cyclist keeps away his condoms after picking from the dispenser

these populations, the rest of the public is equally not left out

as it is general service to the community. The condom dispensers are checked every two weeks by the local leader in the area who is empowered to refill them and every month the TASO team follows up on their condition .TASO also carries out radio talk shows on the different station sensitizing people about the proper use of condoms as well as the availability of the services. However, during community gatherings, the local leaders are also encouraged to do the same and also own up the service so that it is well kept and not vandalised. As the vision goes a world without HIV for TASO with such in place it is yet to be realised. From; TEAM TASO MBALE Compiled by: Megan Katasi (PRA)