Kenya set for free studded condoms ahead of Valentine's Day
"African King of Condoms" Stanley Ngara (gesturing) and National Aids Control Council officials march on Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi on International Condom Day on February 13, 2014. The agency launched free studded condoms today. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
When condoms are used correctly and consistently, they can prevent HIV infection by over 80 per cent, research shows.
The 2016 Kenya AIDS Progress Report shows that young people aged 15-24 account for 77, 647 in 2015 new infections in Kenya.
The government will today launch new studded condoms in what the National Aids Control Council (NACC) terms “pleasure with prevention.”
The condoms will now be offered alongside ordinary ones for free.
This is part of International Condom Day celebrations being marked today, February 13, a day before Valentine's Day.
NEW INFECTIONS
The launch of the studded rubber sheaths — which offer protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections such as HIV — was prompted by consumer preferences for them over plain condoms, NACC says.
Martin Sirengo, the head of the National AIDS & STI Control Programme, said they wanted to keep up with trends in lovemaking as they seek to protect Kenyans from HIV and STIs.
Studded condoms are said to provide greater sensation than the ordinary ones.
“The new studded condoms are free. You don’t have to spend anything in comparison to the studded condoms from private companies. We also want people to be protected as they have pleasure,” he said.
When condoms are used correctly and consistently, they can prevent HIV infection by over 80 per cent, research shows.
The 2016 Kenya AIDS Progress Report shows that young people aged 15-24 accounted for 77,647 new infections in Kenya in 2015.
IGNORANCE
This has been attributed to ignorance and stigma associated with the disease, as well as limited knowledge of prevention methods.
Consequently, these have locked out young people from accessing and taking advantage of HIV-testing services as well as using condoms correctly every time they engage in sex.
The launch, scheduled to start at 3pm, will coincide with a concert in Nairobi City — at the Kenya National Archives — where Kenyans will also get HIV counselling and testing, free condoms and demos on their use.
Participants will also take part in HIV knowledge trivia and get chances to win prizes.
International Condom Day, which has been marked since 2009, is spearheaded by the Aids Health Care Foundation and is aimed at promoting safer sex in an attempt to cut the risk of transmitting HIV.
This year’s theme is “Always in Fashion” and has been localised as “Condoms. Forever Fashionable.”
Similar celebrations will be held in Kiambu, Taita-Taveta, Busia, Kisii, Homa Bay, Makueni, Turkana, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kilifi and Nairobi.
