Condom, a contraceptive with the added protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), is one of society’s enduring pillars in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Despite its prestigious standing, the latex piece is viewed with confounding scrutiny that makes prospective users almost hide to acquire it.
In the extreme case where the prospective user fails to find the guts to face the pharmacy or retail attendant to mention “condom”, they could walk into a sexual bout without the protective gear, with the danger of all vulnerabilities becoming a nightmarish reality.
The Ghana AIDS Commission wants to change the scenario.
It wants to mount condom-vending machines at vantage points to enable people to access condoms without human interface.
The machines, which will be placed at public places such as tertiary institutions, public places of convenience and other public areas, will reduce the face-to-face interaction associated with the current purchase of condoms from pharmacy shops and supermarkets, where buyers face judgment and stigma, and prevent them from accessing and using the product.
The Programme Manager of the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NACP), Dr Emmanuel Akwoulo Agyigewe Teviu, who disclosed this in an interview, said the commission would lead the initiative and work on it with the support of the NACP.
Dr Teviu said this ahead of the International Condom Day, commemorated on February 13, and Valentine’s Day, observed on February 14.
Valentine’s Day is a day on which lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts.
For some, particularly lovers, it climaxes with the expression of affection through sex, sometimes without protection.
International Condom Day is observed to promote condom use as an effective measure for preventing unplanned pregnancies and reducing the chances of transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
Barriers
Dr Teviu said the issue of stigma, fear and being judged had served as barriers in people’s access and use of condoms, but with the fixing of the vending machines, those barriers would be removed, thereby increasing real access to condoms.
He said the condom-vending machines would not only be beneficial to the youth, but to adults also, including those married but were unable to purchase condoms because of the social and cultural environment.
“If you go to a public place, even if it is a washroom or supermarket or whatever, you just go to the corner where the machines are and you and the machine will communicate and then you pick whatever condom you want and go away.
Nobody needs to ask somebody or talk to anybody where you feel that you will be judged,” Dr Teviu said.
The NACP Programme Manager said Ghana, in the past, had some machines for vending condoms, but those machines had become obsolete, which was why they were trying to get some modern ones, which would be user-friendly.
Commemoration
On the commemoration of both international days, Dr Teviu said the Control Programme recognised that festive moments often influenced behaviour, leading to unplanned or spontaneous sexual encounters.
He said that while young people celebrated love, they must also promote informed decision-making, which involved testing to know their HIV status.
The NACP Programme Manager said that where people could not abstain, he advocated proper and consistent use of condoms.
“Using a condom consistently and properly is an expression of care and maturity and not a weakness.
This period provides a strategic opportunity to remind young people that love must be accompanied by responsibility.
HIV and other STIs remain realities in our country, and young people continue to account for a significant proportion of new infections,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 15,290 new HIV infections recorded in 2024, the majority were among the youth, 15 years and above, who recorded 14,447 new infections from the figure.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
