LONDON – Health officials in the United Kingdom have begun installing kiosks designed to provide sexual health advice and condoms for teens.
According to The British Journal of Healthcare Computing and Information Management, the Medi+Vend kiosks are being installed by primary care trusts and local authorities in medical centers, youth centers, schools, colleges, and even homeless shelters. More than 80 of the kiosks have already been installed in 80 locations.
The kiosks allow teens to obtain free condoms, kits to test for sexually transmitted diseases, health advice, and information on local sexual health services.
“The kiosks are about helping teenagers take control of their own lives, about them being responsible for their own actions, but on their terms, in their time, and in places where they feel at ease,” Mal Williamson, managing director of Engage Now and creator of Medi+Vend, told the Journal. “Young people are often perceived as being out of control, but both the perception and actuality of that are frequently erroneous when all they sometimes need is help and guidance.”
