Jazzily-packaged free condoms will be available soon from New York's City Hall as part of the city administration's strategy to promote the usage of condoms among the public and reduce rates of sexually transmitted diseases. Officials are banking on the idea that more people will use condoms if they are wrapped in innovative and distinctive packaging.

One idea for the design of the official city condom is a subway theme, with maps and colors of the different lines emblazoned on the wrappers. The health department says a number of possibilities are under consideration.

New York is already a big player in the condom market. The city hands out 1.5 million free condoms each month, or about 18 million a year. Hundreds of organizations get free condoms from the city and distribute them at various locations, including health clinics, bars, restaurants, nail salons, and nightclubs.

New York negotiated a deal with Australia's Ansell Healthcare Products Ltd., the maker of the Lifestyles brand for 4 cents per condom, putting the expense to the city at just 720,000 dollars annually, according to health officials.

Once the newly designed condoms are available, city officials plan to find out the effectiveness of their distribution program through the annual community health survey that polls 10,000 New Yorkers by telephone.

Source: Xinhua