Two taxi companies in Brandon, Man. are helping drive home the message behind a public health campaign aimed at reducing rates of sexually-transmitted diseases.

Free condoms are being offered to passengers riding in a few ABC and Tasmanian Taxi company cabs on Friday and Saturday nights, Darlene McDonald, a public health nurse, said.

McDonald said Manitoba has the highest rates of STD infection in Canada, and health officials thought that distributing condoms in taxis might be an effective way of curbing them.

Reaction from passengers has been positive, she said.

"Actually, it's more initially a, 'wow, oh! You usually don't get condoms in the back seat of a taxi cab'" McDonald said people have told her.

"It's a bit of surprise. Most of them are saying once you get over that, it's a really good idea," she said.

The condom distribution effort is part of an initiative called Take Care Down There, which was developed in part by the Brandon Regional Health Authority and Manitoba Health.

The condoms are kept in a pouch slung over the back of the driver's seat.