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Bank Gives Shy Thais Condoms

Thailand bank fights aids with free hand outs

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 2, 2007 11:10 AM CDT

(Newser) – Some unusual withdrawals will be taking place later this month as Thailand's Kasikorn Bank begins giving away free condoms, branded with the bank's logo, at its 600 branches. Called "Condoms for Confidence," the campaign to combat the spread of AIDS seeks to alleviate embarrassment felt by many in conservative Thailand. “Women who buy condoms from convenience stores always get a strange look,” a health official told Reuters.

"Even those bank customers who don't need to use the condoms, they can pass them on to their families or friends," he added. Thailand’s aggressive HIV campaign has cut cases from 100,000 in the 1990s to just 13,000 last year. But as that push faded, high numbers of teenagers and homosexuals were still being infected. Less than half of high-schoolers surveyed use condoms.

Condom vending machine, Shanghai, China.JPG ((c) gruntzooki)

condom and lube ((c) kafka4prez)

Condoms are distributed for free to construction workers in front... (Getty Images)

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AIDS • Thailand • marketing • HIV • condom • banking

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Vaccine Cuts HIV Infection Rate by 1/3

Watershed US-Thai study is first to show success

Pope: Condoms Make AIDS Crisis Worse

On visit to Africa, pope makes first statement on their use

Catholic Leader: Condoms in Africa Carry HIV

Mozambican archbishop charges plot to kill Africans

Contraceptive Shot May Double HIV Risk

Study findings could present a 'major health crisis'

Scientists Find Trick to 'Disarm' HIV

Without its cholesterol, virus can't harm immune system

About Us

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Newser By Users

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