France to make condoms free for younger adults aged 18-25

French President Emmanuel Macron stated Thursday that condoms can be made out there at no cost in pharmacies for 18- to 25-year-olds in a bid to scale back undesirable pregnancies amongst younger folks.

“It is a small revolution for contraception,” Macron stated throughout a well being debate with younger folks in Fontaine-le-Comte, a suburb of Poitiers in western France.

The transfer comes after the federal government started providing this 12 months free contraception for all girls beneath 25, increasing a scheme focusing on under-18s to make sure younger girls don’t cease taking contraception as a result of they can not afford it.

Condoms are already reimbursed by the nationwide healthcare system if prescribed by a health care provider or midwife, a measure meant to struggle the unfold of AIDS and different sexually transmitted ailments.

On sexual schooling general, “we’re not superb on this topic. The fact could be very, very completely different from the speculation. It is an space the place we have to a lot better educate our academics”, Macron stated.

Macron wore a face masks on the convention, saying he was following “well being ministry tips”, as the federal government weighs its response to an increase in COVID instances forward of the vacations, although to date no masks mandates have been reintroduced.

“Confronted with the brand new unfold of the epidemic… I believe it is good to set an instance as a result of we do not essentially wish to return to general mandates,” he stated.

Officers are urging folks to put on masks in crowded venues and to get COVID vaccine booster pictures as winter approaches.

© 2022 AFP