Chandigarh: HIV + woman opens first condom bar today

[Guest guest]

HIV + woman opens first condom bar today

Tribune News Service

It’s official. For the first time in Chandigarh’s history, a wing of the

administration other than State AIDS Control Society will support an HIV/AIDS

awareness project. Come tomorrow and Citco’s unique condom bar will open at

Kalagram’s Baithak in the presence of Pooja Thakur, president, Chandigarh

Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS.

There are two unique things about the bar. It has Citco’s support and it will be

inaugurated by a woman, Pooja, who has no qualms about promoting condoms despite

the stigma attached to them. For Citco, it is part of corporate social

responsibility to promote the bar which it treats as an addition to its tourism

infrastructure. Logo of the bar has been designed to incorporate the

international red ribbon visual symbol which is used for AIDS awareness and

prevention thereof. The bar will serve normal beverages like beer and wine along

with food but it will have special decor that helps the promotion of condom use

for safe sexual behaviours.

Pooja, who is looking forward to the project, says: “It will be a huge step

forward. Even if one out of 10 visitors understands the purpose of the bar, he

will have bought protection from HIV. The sexual route is a major cause of

infection. At the bar, the attempt will be to destigmatise the condom by the

display of AIDS awareness

messages conveyed through specially designed laminates as table tops.”

J.S. Bir, managing director, Citco, says souvenirs have also been created for

display and purchase by customers and patrons. These include T-shirts, caps,

mugs and coasters. Money generated at the bar will be pumped back into HIV/AIDS

awareness projects. Condom vending machines have already been installed at

different food outlets of Citco like Chef Lakeview and Drop In. But the Kalagram

bar promises to offer a variety of condoms (apart from those provided through

government networks) at reasonable prices.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070502/cth1.htm#13