Dial a Condom

Dial-a-condomMay 31, 2004

A Swedish aid organisation is to roll out a new line of defence to thecountry's emergency services - the condom ambulance.

From Friday, June 4, amorous couples can call the telephone number696969 and a white van featuring a large red condom with wings as a logowill deliver them a packet of 10 prophylactics.

"We need to increase the usage of condoms," said Carl Osvald, marketingmanager for the Swedish Organisation for Sex Education, thenon-governmental organisation behind the initiative. "It is 50 per centabout pregnancy and 50 per cent about sexually transmitted diseases."

The ambulances will operate in Stockholm and the southern cities ofMalmo and Gothenberg. The service, aimed at young people, will run untilJune 25 and be available between four in the afternoon and nine at night.

A packet of 10 condoms will cost 50 crowns (about $A9.40) less than theycost on average in the shops.

The incidence of sexually transmitted disease was increasing rapidly inSweden and not enough young people used condoms, Osvald said.

"We need to change attitudes to condoms," he said. "If we need to getout into the bedrooms to make things better we will do it."