The Eastern Cape government will soon start distributing new condoms to encourage youths to practise safe sex to avoid HIV/Aids and unwanted teenage pregnancies.
Eastern Cape health MEC Dr Phumza Dyantyi said the new flavoured government condoms would be launched this month at the University of Fort Hare.
They will be available in strawberry, banana and grape flavours and in a range of bright colours.
The province has stocked up on millions of the condoms and they are currently being kept in Bhisho.
Dyantyi said they would first be distributed across tertiary institutions and later to all government health facilities.
The launch comes in response to a study where youths said that they were not using the old Choice condoms because they were smelly and unattractive.
According to latest figures released by Stats SA as part of its General Household Survey, the Eastern Cape recorded the second highest number of teenage pregnancies in 2013 after KwaZulu-Natal.
“It is important for us at the department to promote a healthy lifestyle and government is moving with times to encourage access of these new condoms,” Dyantyi said.
She stressed that there was nothing wrong with the old condoms and encouraged members of the public to continue using them.
The Dispatch yesterday took to the streets to get some feedback on the new Choice condoms and received mixed views. Anam Phendula, 20, said: “The old Choice condom does not smell nice and even though it is very thick, it is not protective enough because it bursts. If the new condoms have a good odour I might consider using them.”
Anthony Carlse, 24, said: “The old condom does not last long. You have to change it. They are too thick and you can’t feel the real thing. With the new ones I am hoping to see quality and that they last long.”
Bongiwe Nana, 21, said: “The old government condoms do not interest me. There is a lot of risk associated with them like getting pregnant.
“Even my boyfriend does not like them. They feel like a shopping bag.” — zwangam@dispatch.co.za