Govt to give free condoms

TANGERANG: To curb the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmittable diseases, the Tangerang administration will distribute free condoms in red-light districts in the regency, an official said on Monday.

Head of the health agency's disease prevention unit Yuliah Iskandar said priority targets were Salembaran Jati village, Kosambi Barat, Dadap and Jatimulya subdistricts.

The regency has recorded an increase in the number of HIV positive people from five in 2003 to 14 in 2004. Although the data for 2005 is not yet complete, according to Yuliah, 12 more people are living with the virus this year. -- JP