First Vending Machine
Categories: David Banks, HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention in Ghana
Writing this in the Suntreso Government Hospital right now, over an MTN HSPA connection. We’re waiting on a gas station owner to come by and take us to his business. We’ll be installing a machine without electronics today. Helena, the Data Manager of the hospital and our main interlocutor, has said that she really wants a machine with usage monitoring in the hospital. Edward and I will be working on assembling one of those this afternoon.
Our biggest challenges thus far have been adapting the machine to the Ghanaian context. Replacement parts are not readily available, and Helena is worried that the machines will empty very quickly. It is becoming immediately obvious that what we truly need is a locally-made machine. One that can be easily modified to accept the correct amount of money for market rates, and dispense condoms that do not require more packaging than absolutely necessary. We are also hoping that there is someone at KNUST that could work on the electronics component.
