WHO Warns Vatican on Condom Advice (4)
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Kintu,
There won't be an ultimate solution to HIV/AIDS until a vaccine
is discovered, and in the meantime we need to ensure that people
have access to condoms should they choose not to abstain. A great
many people engage in sex for reasons other than "procreation",
and while this may be unacceptable in the realms of some relig-
ions and cultures, this is no reason to suppress the choice to
safer sex.
"We should be telling people to only consider using condoms if
they cannot abstain or be faithful to their sexual partners..."
It is this sort of thinking that perpetuates stigma against those
who are HIV positive. Being faithful does not protect one from
contracting HIV/AIDS. Many who have been faithful contract the
disease as a result of their partners' affairs. We need to en-
courage condom use even for those in relationships. Even absti-
nence isn't always a guarantee - some rape victims have been able
to convince rapists to wear a condom, reducing the risk of infec-
tion.
Research conducted by the Child Youth and Family Development Unit
of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) indicate that
school-going learners are having sex at young ages. While condom
roll-out should be accompanied with awareness and education cam-
paigns, the reality is that the availability of condoms could
save lives.
HIV/AIDS is a serious, life threatening disease which can poten-
tially affect everyone, regardless of their religious or cultural
beliefs. While we certainly cannot merely rely on a thin sheath
of rubber, the reality and seriousness of the situation means
that they should be available in as many places and to as many
people as possible, because any weapon in the fight against
HIV/AIDS is better than none.
Joy Olivier
mailto:joy@bridges.org
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