Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - October 31, 2008
AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, October 31/PRNewswire/ -- Though condom prices are decreasing rapidly all over the world, prostitutes and other women working in the sex industry still have to pay enormous costs to guarantee a safe working environment. Although HIV infections and sexual transmitted diseases (STD) remain a great risk in their line of work, survey shows that one in every five prostitutes is offering her services without using a condom. Therefore the Dutch Safe4now Foundation launches a new European campaign to distribute cheap condoms for the sex industry, allowing prostitutes to work safer, more pleasant and cheaper.
From now on this new brand of cheap and certified condoms is available in all of Europe. People can buy them anonymously on http://www.safe4now.eu, paying 10 euro for a package of 100 condoms. This price includes delivery costs, thus reducing the price of a condom to less than 10 cents. The Safe4now Foundation therefore claims to be the cheapest distributor of condoms in Europe. By launching this campaign the foundation hopes to increase the use of condoms in the sex industry and reduce the spread of the HIV virus or venereal diseases.
A study of the Dutch research centre for public health and environment (RIVM) shows that 7 percent of the prostitutes in large cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam are infected by HIV. Because only 82 percent of the ladies use a condom on a regular basis, sometimes engaging unprotected intercourse with their clients, they still risk spreading HIV and STD. Among addicted prostitutes only 40 percent always uses a condom. An EU-funded project on 866 female prostitutes from European countries concluded that the lack of condom use was associated with HIV infections.
"As a foundation we try to support these women. By keeping our prices under ten cent per condom, by adding extra lubricant and by offering them the opportunity to order condoms anonymously through the Internet", Bianca Boef of Safe4now says. "Although condoms are almost a primary necessity of life for them, they have to pay the same high price as private consumers. If they are obliged to order them through their bosses, they even have to pay more."
More information: http://www.safe4now.eu
Source: Safe4now
081031
PR081053
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