OUDoc
12/20/2006, 01:57 PM
Every month, the city distributes 1.5 million free condoms to a wide of range of outlets, from health clinics to barber shops. Just 18 months ago, before the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene launched its Internet-ordering system, that number was 250,000.
Now, any group wishing to offer free condoms and lubricant to clients, patrons, or employees can log onto nyccondom.org and request up to 10,000 condoms — and they can make as many requests as they want.
"Effectively, there's no limit," the city's acting assistant commissioner for HIV prevention and control, Adam Karpati, said. "If they want more, we're happy to do it."
While organizations must agree to distribute condoms free of charge within the city's five boroughs, some critics worry that the system is ripe for abuse.
"The city has a hard enough time collecting water bills," a City Council member, Peter Vallone Jr., said. "I don't think there's going to be any follow-up to ensure that people aren't selling them. There's a finite amount of resources the city has. It's bad enough that we're spending them on giving out free condoms — and I doubt they're going to spend any more to make sure people aren't taking advantage of the system."
http://www.nysun.com/article/45411
Now, any group wishing to offer free condoms and lubricant to clients, patrons, or employees can log onto nyccondom.org and request up to 10,000 condoms — and they can make as many requests as they want.
"Effectively, there's no limit," the city's acting assistant commissioner for HIV prevention and control, Adam Karpati, said. "If they want more, we're happy to do it."
While organizations must agree to distribute condoms free of charge within the city's five boroughs, some critics worry that the system is ripe for abuse.
"The city has a hard enough time collecting water bills," a City Council member, Peter Vallone Jr., said. "I don't think there's going to be any follow-up to ensure that people aren't selling them. There's a finite amount of resources the city has. It's bad enough that we're spending them on giving out free condoms — and I doubt they're going to spend any more to make sure people aren't taking advantage of the system."
http://www.nysun.com/article/45411