(Image source from: Condom shortage ahead of Nashik Kumbh})

Maharashtra State Aids Control Society (MSAC) has expressed their fear in the run-up to the Kumbh Mela of unprotected sex and the possible spread of HIV and AIDS due to the shortage of condoms.

Yogesh Pardeshi, the district program officer, MSAC, told that, some hospitals have already run out of stock and condoms are being brought in from the rural hospitals and the primary health centres. "A meeting was held on Friday and a request for more condoms has been made to the head office," he added.

MSAC has a stock of about 50,000 condoms for the female sex workers and the men-having-sex-with-men (MSM). "The stock will get over before Kumbh," he said.

The crisis attributed to the Centre's order of curtailing funds for NACO. "This, in turn, compelled NACO to curtail its funds for the MSAC and other NGOs," an official said.

Kuldeep Pawar, the project manager of the Female Sex Workers Targeted Intervention at Pravara Medical Institute, told "As there is virtually no stock left for free distribution from the government, the customers may refrain from buying condoms. This might increase chances of infection. It is also not possible for all sex workers to buy contraceptives for safe sex because of their meager income."

By Premji