Peculiar places of condom dispensers in Indonesia

Eighty years ago, Richard Carlisle, English publisher and bookshop owner, invented the the first vending machine for selling books. In 1927, William Rowe, an American, invented the first cigarette-vending machine. That was the start of a trend toward selling soft drinks, milk, soap, newspapers, and recently condom, the capsule of love.
Estimates suggest there are 5.6 million vending machines in Japan alone which works out to be one for every 20 people. Sales from vending machines in 2000 totaled $56 billion! No details about how big is the market for condom vending machines.
In England, more than 38,000 condom vending machines (in Indonesia it cost US$700 to US$1,000 per unit) have been installed at bars, hotels, and amusement centers.
In Spain, condom dispensers are located in every public bathroom, including those in schools. Seven years ago, China has the first condom vending machines operated in Shenzen and it was a hit.
That’s not the case in Indonesia, a country with the largest Moslem population in the world, even though a step ahead of the neighboring Malaysia without one single condom machine.
Indonesia’s Family Planning Coordination Agency (BKKBN), silently introduced seven condom vending machines in Jakarta, the capital city. With three coins of 500 rupiah, you could get a pack of condom with three choice of flavor, strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate.
Detik.com found two machines in the agency’s building, one unit each at Gatot Subroto hospital (at the gyneacology department), Indonesia Military Headquarter, Indonesia Police Headquarter, Jakarta Police Headquarter, and a clinic at Pasar Baru traditional market.
Why they put this vending machines at strange places?
It was by design, to hide them from public eyes, in contrast to the original idea of such machines. But that’s for reasons, as condom vending machines are thought by some to be encouraging moral degradation among youths and legalization of prostitution.
So far, 15 out of 32 provinces in Indonesia have installed the dispensers locally dubbed Kondom ATM (as it works like ATM). But acceptance of these machines variably between areas.
In Jayapura, capital city of West Papua province, the ATM operates normally and at the right place of red-light district called Turki at Tanjung Elmo-Sentani. Such machines also available at six regencies in the province, i.e. Mimika, Sorong, Biak Numfor, Manokwari, and Merauke.
“This ‘ATM’ machine is really helpful in curbing HIV/AIDS in Papua. Many times people are reluctant to buy condoms at drug stores but with this machine, they won’t be ashamed to get one,” said Papua deputy governor Constant Karma to The Jakarta Post few months ago.
The World Health Organization estimates the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Papua, at between 13,000 and 15,000 people out of the eastern most province’s 2.4 million people. Papua is a largely Christian population province.
In West Nusa Tenggara, a largely Moslem population province, the existence of such machines had angered local leaders, both formal and informal, especially religious leaders. In July 2005, local legislators formally rejected the existence of Condom ATMs. Two such ATMs were already in operation, installed at hospital and police headquarter. But they are dormant since the July decision even though government insists to operate them with better protection.
Surprisingly it is not easy to put the machine in the tourist Island of Bali, a mainly Hindu population province. Instead of installing the machine at red-light district, local administration lay it dormant at a clinic. “If we install the machine at red-light district, it could be seen as legalization of prostitution here.”This is in contrast with India, a country with largest Hindu population in the world. Just recently AIDS prevention society in India has placed an order for 11,000 condom ATMs which will be installed throughout the country.

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