Unusual gifts for Valentines Day

Unusual gifts for Valentines Day

Send a e-condom, this Valentine
New York, February 12

How about sending an e-condom as Valentine day gift? At least the New York City considers it to be a cool idea. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has established the NYC condom page on Facebook by visiting which the New Yorkers can send e-condom which spreads the world about safe sex and gives link to information where to get them. The "gift" will also instruct in the correct method of use. The Health Department will host a virtual event on Facebook, where New Yorkers can say they will use a condom and invite their friends to do the same.

The new page is the latest phase in a campaign that started in 2007, when New York City launched the nation's first branded city condom. Monthly distribution at clinics, clubs, salons and other venues has since doubled, reaching more than three million condoms per month. Together, the Health Department and its numerous community partners have distributed some 70 million NYC Condoms since the launch. By latest count, more than 4000 people have already send e-condom and their number is fast increasing. Last year, industrial designer Yves Behar, founder of the San Francisco-based fuseproject firm, gave a fresh look with a new wrapper and a sleek dispenser to NYC Condoms.

u00a0It won an International Design Excellence Award from Business Week and the Industrial Designers Society of America. It also won a 2008 Spark Award. "By using Facebook, we can help millions of people spread the word about condoms," said Dr. Monica Sweeney, the Health Department's assistant commissioner for HIV prevention and control.

"Condoms protect against contracting HIV and other STDs when used correctly and consistently. They also prevent unintended pregnancy. We encourage New Yorkers to stay safe on Valentine's Day and everyday by using condoms." u00a0Facebook has an even stronger following in New York City than in the country as a whole, according to usage surveys. And STD information is one of the city's top 10 Internet search topics. Despite recent gains in condom awareness, HIV and other STDs are prevalent in New York City. Approximately 14 New Yorkers are newly infected with HIV every day, while 30 New Yorkers contract gonorrhoea and 160 contract Chlamydia. The Health Department promotes testing and treatment to control these infections, but partner reduction and consistent condom use are the surest ways to reduce the risk, it says.

(Source: Press Trust of India)

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