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Female condoms have been widely celebrated as an answer to putting reproductive health and HIV protection in the hands of women. Yet, the South African government fell far short of its promise of distributing 7.5 million female condoms during the World Cup, with only 1 million finding their way into the hands of consumers. On the other hand, male condoms were available in high numbers - 565 million - though even these were 20% fewer than expected.
Many women’s organisations who had pressed for the condoms expressed disappointment that the female versions were largely missing in action, thus offering women less choice of how to protect themselves. Tian Jonhson of Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Trust is frustrated at the situation, referring to messages communicated by the organisation to 2010 visitors, “Coming to South Africa soon? Bring your own condoms; we certainly don’t have enough to share!”
According to Johnson, South Africa cannot supply enough condoms for its population. “We want to give women the right of choice and make sure that they do not continue to be victims in their bedrooms,” said Johanson, “The supply of male condoms is much higher than females, which is disempowering for women.”
At the launch of the HIV Counselling and Testing Campaign (HCT) in March 2010, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi stated, “We need to stand up and confront our challenge as South Africans.” He further added, “This campaign will be run under the theme: I am responsible, we are responsible, and South Africa is taking responsibility.” Yet, how do you arm yourself and take responsibility if you do not have access to means to protect yourself?
“This is a case of mass destruction of the women in our country. A case in point is the lack of urgency and priority towards women’s issues,” said Nomfundo Eland of the South African National AIDS Council Women’s Sector.
“When the HCT Campaign launched these were concerns for the women’s sector, to make sure that gender was a priority,” added Eland. “Once a person has been tested, it is important that resources are in place such as condoms whether positive or negative.”
Of the million female condoms distributed, vulnerable areas like Khayelitsha have not received any since January this year. “Somehow the distribution team is not getting into these areas and this is very concerning that in the last six months female condoms did not reach these recipients,” said Eland.
We talk of women’s empowerment and look to our governments make concrete plans to make sure that the demand for female condoms are met so that women can have a more options for protection. The country had six years to plan for the World Cup; even the Dutch made it a point to supply their fans travelling to South Africa with condoms.
According to Eland, the reason the government was not been able to meet demands is due to department shortfalls. This is a big shortfall all right. What happened to the R100million spent by government and entities on tickets to the football games and hospitality comforts? That would have come in handy!
Also, what happened to the 33% budget increase for HIV and AIDS as outlined by Minister Pravin Gordhan? World Cup tickets too? In a speech in March 2010, he reiterated the fact that funds must be used wisely by making sure that the rate of infection is cut. It seems reasonable that widespread condom availability would be at the top of the prevention list.
Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, Advocacy and Mainstreaming Project Manager with Out, says that gender equality may be an issue that we can talk about as women, yet in practice empowering women in terms of sexual health is far behind where it should be.
“It is ridiculous that we have no female condoms and I am concerned that sexual rights for women are not on the agenda,” she said. “It is very clear that men had a higher supply of condoms than women. It is also scary for women in same sex relationships. How do we tell people to go home and wait on having sex because the shipment is either in limbo or sorry we just can’t meet your demands?”
Yes Minister, we can cut rates of infection and as you said, our war of prevention is extraordinarily important - please act upon it now. We celebrate women’s month in a few weeks and I hope that such shortfalls are not in existence, or are high on the agenda to rectify. As Eland suggests, the HCT campaign looks bleak if the condom supply is not sustainable including making the procurement of female condoms a priority.
Glenda Muzenda- Raftopoulos is the Gender and Media Southern Africa Network Coordinator. This article is part of the Gender Links Opinion and Commentary Service.
Are you dissapointed in our government and their failure to deliver more condoms? Share your opinions below.
Many women’s organisations who had pressed for the condoms expressed disappointment that the female versions were largely missing in action, thus offering women less choice of how to protect themselves. Tian Jonhson of Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Trust is frustrated at the situation, referring to messages communicated by the organisation to 2010 visitors, “Coming to South Africa soon? Bring your own condoms; we certainly don’t have enough to share!”
According to Johnson, South Africa cannot supply enough condoms for its population. “We want to give women the right of choice and make sure that they do not continue to be victims in their bedrooms,” said Johanson, “The supply of male condoms is much higher than females, which is disempowering for women.”
At the launch of the HIV Counselling and Testing Campaign (HCT) in March 2010, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi stated, “We need to stand up and confront our challenge as South Africans.” He further added, “This campaign will be run under the theme: I am responsible, we are responsible, and South Africa is taking responsibility.” Yet, how do you arm yourself and take responsibility if you do not have access to means to protect yourself?
“This is a case of mass destruction of the women in our country. A case in point is the lack of urgency and priority towards women’s issues,” said Nomfundo Eland of the South African National AIDS Council Women’s Sector.
“When the HCT Campaign launched these were concerns for the women’s sector, to make sure that gender was a priority,” added Eland. “Once a person has been tested, it is important that resources are in place such as condoms whether positive or negative.”
Of the million female condoms distributed, vulnerable areas like Khayelitsha have not received any since January this year. “Somehow the distribution team is not getting into these areas and this is very concerning that in the last six months female condoms did not reach these recipients,” said Eland.
We talk of women’s empowerment and look to our governments make concrete plans to make sure that the demand for female condoms are met so that women can have a more options for protection. The country had six years to plan for the World Cup; even the Dutch made it a point to supply their fans travelling to South Africa with condoms.
According to Eland, the reason the government was not been able to meet demands is due to department shortfalls. This is a big shortfall all right. What happened to the R100million spent by government and entities on tickets to the football games and hospitality comforts? That would have come in handy!
Also, what happened to the 33% budget increase for HIV and AIDS as outlined by Minister Pravin Gordhan? World Cup tickets too? In a speech in March 2010, he reiterated the fact that funds must be used wisely by making sure that the rate of infection is cut. It seems reasonable that widespread condom availability would be at the top of the prevention list.
Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, Advocacy and Mainstreaming Project Manager with Out, says that gender equality may be an issue that we can talk about as women, yet in practice empowering women in terms of sexual health is far behind where it should be.
“It is ridiculous that we have no female condoms and I am concerned that sexual rights for women are not on the agenda,” she said. “It is very clear that men had a higher supply of condoms than women. It is also scary for women in same sex relationships. How do we tell people to go home and wait on having sex because the shipment is either in limbo or sorry we just can’t meet your demands?”
Yes Minister, we can cut rates of infection and as you said, our war of prevention is extraordinarily important - please act upon it now. We celebrate women’s month in a few weeks and I hope that such shortfalls are not in existence, or are high on the agenda to rectify. As Eland suggests, the HCT campaign looks bleak if the condom supply is not sustainable including making the procurement of female condoms a priority.
Glenda Muzenda- Raftopoulos is the Gender and Media Southern Africa Network Coordinator. This article is part of the Gender Links Opinion and Commentary Service.
Are you dissapointed in our government and their failure to deliver more condoms? Share your opinions below.
