Govt launches 'smarter' condom
Candace Freeman
15 June 2004
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has launched the government's re-branded men's condoms in an effort to increase usage.
The new-look "Choice" condom will still be provided free of charge, but is now packaged in a "smarter", more attractive way in order to encourage more sexually active South Africans to use it.
Over 300 million public sector condoms were freely distributed in 2003.
Research conducted by the department showed that most young South Africans felt the new-look condom - bearing the slogan "No choice, no play" - was punchy, fun and straightforward.
"Significantly though, the youth with whom we spoke also stressed that the name 'choice' gave them another message, one that calls for responsibility towards themselves and their peers", Tshabalala-Msimang said.
The department's research also showed that there was an increase in the use of condoms among young people aged 15 to 19, that there was a significant
decrease in the amount of sexual partners, and that young people were now waiting longer before their first sexual experience.
Explaining why the department had decided to re-brand the condoms, the minister said it was mainly due to public perceptions that government condoms were of inferior quality compared to commercial brands.
"This perception emanated from the fact that prior to 1998, there was no effective quality assurance programme in place to ensure high quality. Since then, the quality standards of our condoms have been set by the South African Bureau of Standards", she said.
Tshabalala-Msimang also stressed that the re-branding was not the end of government's "Abstinence, Be faithful and Condomise (ABC)" campaign.
"To me the issue is about choices. People, especially the youth, must abstain from sex, it is good and safe to wait", she said.
"HIV and Aids affects every facet of society, and by taking corrective action we can be assured that we
will manage and prevent the spread of the epidemic.
"We need to say to our partners: 'No choice, no play'."
Source: BuaNews
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