It fits in your pocket or wallet. The condom is an essential accessory for sexually active and informed individuals.
It is the only real protection against AIDS and is now more accessible to everyone. Starting December 1st, World AIDS Day, it will be sold 60 cents cheaper. In other words, it will cost 20 cents.
This initiative comes from the Minister of Health, Xavier Bertrand. The goal: to fight against sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS. A scourge affecting 6,700 French people diagnosed as HIV positive in 2005. This measure has almost unanimous support among politicians. Jérôme Rivière, the deputy of Alpes-Maritimes, considers it important: “The fight against the pandemic that is AIDS requires serious actions from public authorities. This operation is part of this awareness. We must try to remove all barriers to buying condoms and not feel uncomfortable. Now everyone will find them where they feel like picking them up.” Some minor controversial voices have been raised to remind of the inflation condoms have experienced.
For citizens and professionals involved with the measure, opinions are divided. Gerard, a tobacconist at Reinitas, but above all, a father of a young girl, welcomes this action. He cannot help but express himself on the topic: “The more we have easy access to this product, the better it will be for the planet. I am convinced that it is with small gestures that we will achieve results one day. I would go even further: it would be even better if condoms were free.” According to him, distributing condoms for free would cost less than the treatments required for HIV. The words have been spoken.
Besides being cheaper, condoms will also be available in many places: at tobacconists, newsstands, and bookstores (20,000 new points of sale). This news delights many people from Nice. This is the case for Basma, a pharmacist in the city center: “Unfortunately, I notice an embarrassment in customers who wish to buy condoms here. It is a shame that today’s society is not more open-minded. I think young people will be more tempted to buy this product along with their pack of cigarettes. Anyway, no matter where it is sold, what matters is to protect oneself.”
Change of scenery, change of mood. Carole, a tobacconist at Defly, does not mince her words: “Condos should be available in pharmacies, not here. Everyone should do their own job!”
While everyone agrees with the price reduction of condoms, the jury is still out on the appropriate place for their sale. The controversy is more present than ever among the concerned professionals. While some pharmacists are in favor of this operation, others have the opposite opinion on the subject. Too puritanical, or too protective of their profession, they have a vehement attitude on the issue. This is the case for Patrick, a tobacconist on Avenue Félix Faure. Without hesitation, he accuses the public authorities: “They need to stop lulling us to sleep. They are doing this to hide the anti-smoking fight. If they really cared about illnesses, they would ban tobacco. But this trade is very profitable for them. It is not by lowering the price of condoms and distributing them everywhere that young people will instinctively protect themselves.”
One question remains: will expanding distribution locations have a positive impact on the population, or should more emphasis be placed on prevention campaigns?
