New Delhi: This Asian country has announced the distribution of 95 million free condoms ahead of Valentine’s Day. Thailand has come up with this amazing idea to control birth rates and unwanted teen pregnancies.

The “gold card,” the government’s universal healthcare programme, benefits almost 50 million of the country’s nearly 70 million residents. Cardholders can use them to receive medical care in both public and private institutions.

The south Asian government is taking this action in an effort to reduce the spread of STDs like syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, AIDS, and cervical cancer.

The action was taken in response to an upsurge in STD cases during the previous few years. According to the most recent government data, syphilis and gonorrhoea accounted for more than half of these occurrences in 2021, with the most affected age groups being 15 to 19 and 20 to 24 years.

The “gold card,” the government’s universal healthcare programme, benefits almost 50 million of the country’s nearly 70 million residents. Cardholders can use them to get medical care in both public and private facilities.

Out of 1000 Thai girls between the ages of 15 and 19, 24.4 gave birth in 2021. According to WHO, the global rate for the same age group was 42.5 at the time.

On February 1 itself, a drive to distribute condoms got underway in Thailand. These condoms, according to a government spokeswoman in Thailand, are available at no cost from any drugstore or primary healthcare facility. In Thailand, anyone who possesses a national health care card is entitled to 10 condoms per week for a year.

Also Read: Transgender couple from Kerala announces “Good News” on social media: Read here