New York City Plans Official Condom

  New York City Hall will soon release a branded official city condom to combat AIDS.

  Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden said yesterday that an official New York City condom is in the works.

  New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden is pumped up about putting out New York City's own brand of condoms to combat AIDS. The Health Department hands out 1.5 million free condoms a month to reduce sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS.

  "Brands work and people use branded items more than they use non-branded items, whether it's a cola or a medicine even," health commissioner Thomas Frieden said.

  The health department, which uses the condom program to fight sexually transmitted diseases, said it still considering package designs.

  The 18 million free condoms each year go to hundreds of organizations, which distribute them at health clinics, advocacy groups, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, nail salons and prisons.

  City officials, who conduct an annual health survey, say a memorable package could also help them gauge how often people actually use the city's condoms.

  New York City leads the nation in HIV/AIDS cases. In 2005, 1,400 city inhabitants died of AIDS, the third-leading cause of death among residents under 65 behind cancer and heart disease.

Source : AP