Washington, DC – The Department of Health, HIV/AIDS Administration, will launch its “One Million Ways to Fight HIV” condom distribution campaign tomorrow at 10:30 am at Spin Cycle Laundromat, 2800 Alabama Avenue, SE (at Good Hope Road), in Ward 7.

“It is a fact that condoms can help prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,” said Department of Health Director Gregg A. Pane, MD, of the effort, which will put 250,000 free condoms in District communities as part of the “Come Together DC-Get Screened for HIV” campaign launched in June, 2006. “And while abstinence is the only absolute fail-safe method for preventing HIV infection, for those who are sexually active, using a condom is definitely a critical element to our efforts to reduce HIV infection in the District.”

At Spin Cycle, where condoms are distributed by the Life Guard program, along with a DOH mobile health unit, Dr. Pane will outline the District’s plan to make condoms available through District agencies, including DOH clinics, health care and community organizations, street outreach projects, youth serving organizations, the DC Jail, and at non-traditional locations, including dance clubs, bars, barber and beauty salons, and Laundromats.  DOH will monitor the organizations to ensure that condoms are free and readily available.

Laboratory studies show that condoms are 95 percent effective in reducing the risk of HIV infection.  DOH urges everyone to handle condoms carefully and use only water-based lubricant.  Lubricants containing spermicides, also known as nonoxynol-9, should be avoided, as they can increase the risk of HIV transmission.

In addition to dispatching a fleet of vans to deliver condoms today, the remaining 750,000 condoms will be delivered every two months until September.  DOH also plans to make available a limited number of female condoms and dental dams.  All information about the condoms, including directions on how to use them and sites where organizations have free condoms, is available on the DOH HIV/AIDS website at doh.dc.gov. Organizations that are interested in distributing free condoms can apply on the website to receive shipments.

The condom distribution program complements DOH’s goals to encourage residents to be screened for HIV, institute routine screening in all health care settings, educate and equip residents to prevent HIV, and provide care and treatment to people with HIV/AIDS.  

“You don’t have to get HIV. For the health and safety of you and your partner, always use a condom,” said Dr. Pane.

BACKGROUND:
In 2004, the District had the highest rate of AIDS cases, with 179.2 cases per 100,000 people, among cities with populations over 500,000.  The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), now estimates that more than one million people in the United States are living with HIV.  An estimated 25 percent of those do not know they are infected, and they are the cause of half of new infections.  Research shows that those individuals who know their HIV status and are connected to care live longer and modify their behavior to reduce the risk of HIV transmission to others.

List of organizations, areas receiving the first round of condoms

• Life Guard - Wards 7,8 - 120,000
• District agencies, including DOH - District-wide - 27,300
• Whitman-Walker Clinic - Wards 1,8 - 25,000
• Community Education Group - Ward 7 - 11,000
• Us Hepling Us - Ward 1, Georgia Ave barberships, salons, clubs  - 11,000  
• Unity Health Care - Ward 1 - 10,000
• Georgetown Kids Mobile Unit - Wards 5, 6, 7, 8 - 8,000
• Sasha Bruce Youthwork - Wards 5, 6, 7, 8 - 8,000
• Family Connection/Children's Hospital - Ward 5 - 6,000
• DOH Addiction Prevention & Recovery Administration (APRA) - Ward 5 - 5,000
• Howard University Student Health Services - Ward 1 - 3,500
• Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive (HIPS) - Select locations District-wide - 3,000
• Family & Medical Counseling - Ward 8 - 2,500
• Efforts (ex-cons outreach) - Ward 2 - 2,000
• Metro Teen AIDS - Ward 6 - 2,000
• Abundant Life - Ward 6 - 1,500
• Different Avenues - Wards 1,4,5,6,7,8 - 1,500
• So Others Might Eat (SOME) - Ward 5 - 1,500
• Our Place - Ward 6 - 1,000
• Rock Creek Academy - Ward 3 - 200