Petrol bunks to give away condoms to check AIDS

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, AUG. 23. Starting with those in Chennai, all Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) petrol bunks in the State will soon begin distribution of condoms free of cost as part of a programme to control the spread of AIDS.

Display of posters at the bunks carrying messages aimed at prevention of the killer-disease is another component of the programme, launched today under the aegis of the AIDS Prevention and Control (APAC) project of the Voluntary Health Services. The targeted intervention programme essentially seeks to reach out to the truck drivers and cleaners, whose life style makes them vulnerable to the disease.

Launching the programme at a function here, Mr. L. K. Tripathy, Health Secretary, hailed the efforts of APAC and HPCL and urged other national oil companies and the corporate sector to take up similar ``social marketing'' efforts. Emphasising the need to popularise the use of condoms, he said with no cure ``at the moment'' for AIDS, prevention was the only solution.

Mr. D. R. Tawte, Chief Manager (Personnel and Administration), HPCL, said the programme was an extension of the social welfare schemes of the company. Besides promoting the use of condoms, the bunks would distribute literature about AIDS prevention methods. The staffers at the petroleum retail outlets would be trained for the programme. In the next phase, places having considerable truck population, such as Namakkal, Salem and Erode, would be covered under the programme.

After covering all the petroleum retail outlets, the HPCL proposed to include its SKO and LPG dealers in the programme, for targeting intervention among sections of the society, he added.

Urging other national oil companies to participate in the programme, Dr. Bimal Charles, Project Director, APAC project, said prevention of AIDS among truckers was of utmost significance since they were major customers. Spread of AIDS among the working class would affect the economy too, he added.

While Mr. N. S. Murali, VHS secretary, highlighted the activities of the voluntary agency, Mr. K. Gopal, Project Director, Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society, spoke about the impact of the disease in Tamil Nadu and the efforts undertaken towards its prevention.

Receiving the first set of publicity material, Mr. M. Kannan, a petroleum dealer in north Chennai, said the dealer community would extend all possible support to the programme. The dealers, he added, were open to projects that would help contain the spread of AIDS.

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Section  : Southern States
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