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In a bid to promote safe sex and curb the spread of HIV and AIDS, Madagascar has announced plans to distribute 15 million free condoms in 2005.
Fenosoa Ratsimanetrimanana, executive secretary of the national AIDS committee, told Reuters the cheapest condoms - at five US cents - were still far too expensive for many people.
The island's first ever distribution of free condoms is aimed at familiarising its 17 million people with the product as a weapon against AIDS.
Antenatal surveys indicate an increase in prevalence rates from 0.16 percent in 2000 to just over one percent currently.
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