French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that condoms will be made available free for young people in a bid to reduce unwanted pregnancies in the country.

"It is a small revolution for contraception," Macron said, during a health debate in the suburb of Poitiers, while announcing free condoms in pharmacies for 18-25 year olds.

Although both males and females can pick up the condoms, the free offer only applies to male condoms.

Health authorities estimate that the rate of STDs increased by about 30% in 2020 and 2021 in France, Reuters reported.

The move to provide free condoms for young people comes after the Macron-led government began offering free birth control for all women under 25 this year. The free birth control was introduced to ensure young women do not stop taking contraception because they cannot afford it.

Condoms are already reimbursed by the national healthcare system if prescribed by a doctor or midwife, a measure intended to fight the spread of Aids and other sexually transmitted infections, as per a Guardian report.

Source: Reuters