Condomize campaign launched

Gabby Tjiroze
There are lots of reasons young people don't use condoms, some of these reasons include the fact that sex is dry with a condom, it is smelly and because of peer pressure. These and many other reasons came up at a Condomize campaign training workshop held at Ongwediva.

The Condomize campaign is a joint programme of the United Nations Population Fund and The Condom project, in partnership with UNAIDS and the Condom Inter-Agency Task Team.

According to UNFPA programme officer for maternal health, eSwateni Thamary Silindza said the goal for the campaign is to de-stigmatise condoms and to encourage access to quality condoms.

"The de-stigmatisation programming is designed to help communities become comfortable with the simple aspects, such as saying the word “condom,” holding a condom in its package in a non-sexual situation and discussing condoms in the context of art, performance or fashion," said Silindza.

Risto Mushongo from the Namibia Planned Parenthood Association (NAPPA) who works with young people on a daily basis said the usage of condoms among young people is very worrisome.

Meanwhile, according to the UNFPA country representative, Denna Gayle, access to safe, voluntary family planning is a human right.

"Family planning is central to gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment and it is a key factor in reducing poverty. Using contraceptive should be a choice free of coercion and based on the principle of informed free choice" said Gayle.