9 August 2006
"Your sexual health is now in your own hands," Minister Uys said today at
the launch of an awareness campaign on the usage of female condoms. The event
coincides with national Women's Day.
Minister Uys said through this initiative the Department of Health aims
to:
* promote the knowledge, wide acceptance and use of the female condom
* empower women to make more informed choices about their own sexual
health
* honour women achievers, trendsetters and visionaries in their
communities
* create a platform for mothers and daughters to discuss the equality of women
and their right to control their own sexual health.
Non-profit organisations (NPOs) such as Female Health Foundation (FHF),
National South African Workers Welfare (NASAWW), Planned Parenthood Association
(PPASA) and Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT), will all join
hands along with the department and the City of Cape Town in the fight against
HIV and Aids. The event will take place in the Arabella Sheraton, and commences
at 12h45.
"The initiative behind this function is to give women together with men, an
equal opportunity to prevent sexually transmitted infections including HIV and
also to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Women will be encouraged to speak freely
and openly about the importance of protecting themselves against Sexually
Transmitted Infections (STIs) including HIV and unwanted pregnancy," said
Pierre Uys.
With the enhanced empowerment of women and the increased use of the female
condom as an alternative choice to the male condom, the incidence of STIs,
including HIV, is expected to decrease over a period of time. "The national
Department of Health is investing more than R130 million per year to ensure
sufficient supplies of condoms, of highest South African Bureau of Standards
(SABS) quality free of charge to the public," Uys said.
During 2005/06, the national Department of Health supplied 206 000 female
condoms to the Western Cape. Of these 120 613 were distributed to the current
sites. There are at present 72 sites with the intention to expand these sites
to even more in 2006/07 to improve distribution and access.
"City Health has distributed a total of 21 million male condoms. However
distribution of the more expensive female condoms has been restricted to 21
clinics involved in a pilot project where staff have been specially trained.
The intention is to make the female condom more widely known to both women and
men, and more easily accessible to women," said Dr Ivan Toms, City Health
Director.
Some STIs are symptomatic and are treated in public health facilities,
private health facilities and by traditional healer practitioners. Studies
indicate that 50% of STIs are symptomatic. The burden caused by STIs on the HIV
epidemic is enormous as STIs increase the risk of becoming infected with HIV
and the prevention, diagnosis and early treatment of STIs is a high
priority.
Enquiries:
Faiza Steyn
Tel: (021) 483 3235
Herman van der Westhuizen
Tel: (021) 483 2627
Issued by: Department of Health, Western Cape Provincial Government
9 August 2006
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government (http://www.capegateway.gov.za)
