By Neena Bhandari
Sydney, 02.06.2002 (Women’s Feature Service): In the remote Western Australian town of Fitzroy Crossing, an innovative scheme has helped in promoting safe sex amongst the Aboriginal community – hanging condoms on trees.
Working on the ‘community knows best’ principle, Nindilingarri Cultural Health Service (NCHS), a grassroots organization, began placing condoms in 300 cm-long PVC pipes and hanging them with wire hooks on river gum and eucalyptus trees – unique condom dispensers. The local people congregate for their evening drink and socializing under these trees. Eight containers were hung at Crossing Inn and another eight a few kilometres away – the two traditional meeting grounds for the community.