Condoms have made it to University campus through the back door after nearly two decades of heated arguments.

But students have not been flocking to Health Plus on Campus, an outlet that opened earlier this month at Student House, just for condoms. The shop, which will be officially inaugurated next week, is run by Caroline Scerri, 36, a pharmacist and registered nutritionist.

“It’s much busier than we ever thought and we never needed to advertise heavily. For weeks, we have been going strong and the shelves are emptied on a daily basis. First-aid items were a real hit and we’re already thinking about introducing another cash point,” she explained.

Ms Scerri said there was such a huge fuss about the introduction of condoms on campus she thought the contraceptives would sell out faster. Sales of condoms were “nothing out of the ordinary”.

The pharmacist is still gauging the demand for condoms and, although about seven contraceptive importers approached her eagerly, she is in no hurry and will not be pressured.

The debate about the taboo topic was bred around 1993 and gained pace a couple of years ago.

The sexual health chapter within the 2006 health policy drafted by the University Students’ Council (KSU) was amended in 2009 when the ABC guidelines of sexual health, unveiled by the World Health Organisation, were adopted.

Late in 2009, Move Progressive Students submitted an application to University Rector Juanito Camilleri after a survey it carried out showed more than 70 per cent of students were in favour of the installation of a condom dispenser. In February last year, Move said it had been told by Prof. Camilleri its request to install a condoms machine at Student House should be submitted to the KSU president. Later that same year, KSU president Carl Grech said it “never endorsed a policy against condoms”.

Mr Grech said one of the main arguments brought against the installation of a condom machine was that food and beverage establishments within a range of 200 metres around campus had condom dispensers in their restrooms and so it did not make sense to install one at the University.

Since a number of student organisations did not agree with installing a condom machine on campus, the majority agreed a pharmacy should be opened to dispense condoms, among others, and the KSU last year went to the Health Ministry to get a pharmacy licence. The KSU was informed the issue of pharmacy licences in Malta had been frozen since 2006 and was advised to apply for a health shop licence instead. Ms Scerri was the ideal candidate for the venture because, after graduating as a pharmacist, she furthered her studies in nutrition and dietetics.