Wari villagers in NTB to get condom ATM's

Antara, Mataram

A senior government official said on Sunday his office was planning to install automatic condom dispensers soon in the vicinity of the PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara mining site in of Batu Hijau area on Sumbawa island.

The condom dispensers are aimed at supporting the family planning program and preventing the spread sexually transmitted diseases. They will be installed at the request of the giant mining company, said Burhan, the head of West Nusa Tenggara Family Planning Office.

Another dispenser was set up a few months ago in the vicinity of West Nusa Tenggara provincial police headquarters on Lombok.

The condom dispensing program has met strong opposition from some provincial councillors, who fear that condom distribution will encourage fornication and adultery in West Nusa Tenggara province. Sexual relations out of wedlock has been called the most evil act and greatest taboo for those living in the devoutly religious province of West Nusa Tenggara, where most people consider themselves Muslims.

However, the public protests have since died down after government officials embarked on a public relations campaign explaining the importance of condom use for safe sex. The government also explained how condoms prevent unplanned births.

The condom dispenser looks and works much like an automatic teller machine. People interested in getting condoms simply press a button and a condom will be dispensed. Burhan did not say whether the condoms could be obtained without a fee.

Condom dispensers are a very new phenomenon for rural areas of the country.

Jimmy, a spokesperson from Newmont, said he had no idea about the plan.