Cleveland AIDS
group plans to distribute 1 million condoms

The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland this week announced a plan to distribute and facilitate the distribution of 1 million condoms to northeast Ohio residents during the next two years. The announcement follows the agency's just-completed "Wrap It Up, Cleveland" campaign, which resulted in 50,000 condoms being handed out in the city in mid December.

"Over the last several years a more conservative political climate has had something of a chilling effect on frank discussions about sexual risk and risk reduction," said Earl Pike, the Taskforce's executive director, in a press statement. "But with over a million people with HIV/AIDS in the United States, we can't afford to avoid open discussion. And while for many youth abstinence is the best choice, we can't afford to abandon those youth and young adults, gay and straight, who are sexually active. For them, availability of condoms is critical."

L. Michael Gipson, director of education at the AIDS Taskforce, estimates the total cost of distributing 1 million condoms to be about $120,000 and adds that the Taskforce will work with drugstores, grocery stores, community centers, and social service agencies to help reach the goal. (Advocate.com)