Will fruity condoms promote safe sex?

POLOKWANE – THE minister of health, Aaron Motsoaledi recently announced that purple grape-flavoured, yellow banana-flavoured and red strawberry-flavoured condoms will be distributed to colleges and universities in the upcoming months.

This is done with hope that free flavoured condoms will increase condom use among young people as the unflavoured condoms had a reputation for being smelly and unattractive.

CV asks Polokwane residents if they think flavoured condoms will make safe sex more fashionable among young people.

Itumeleng Papole says flavoured condoms will encourage young people to use them.

“Young people do not want to use unflavoured condoms because they are smelly. Young people are attracted to new things and always want to try something new. I have seen this in colleges where people are taking to the new flavoured condoms.”

Lerato Mashaba does not agree and says nothing will change.

“People who are serious about safe sex will use condoms no matter the smell or flavour. Government cannot force people to have safe sex if they do not want to.”

Penny Kgaabi says the new condoms will make young people curious and encourage them to use it.

“The old condoms have a smell that we do not like. Many young people feel ashamed to use them. The new ones will make us proud to use them,” she says.

Thabang Mapheto says safe sex must be a priority whether the condoms are flavoured or not.

“Government condoms have always been easy to use and convenient to obtain. Safe sex has nothing to do with flavour.”

Thomas Masingi says, “You cannot buy responsibility with flavour”.

He adds that responsibility must be taught at a young age.

“It boils down to responsibility. There is this belief that sex without a condom is more enjoyable. People who are responsible will put their health first.”

Augustine Maimele says the problem with young people is that they love the thrill that comes with playing with death.

“A permanent solution would be to invent a condom that can be injected and stay in the body for two months. It is not about flavour but about what kind of sex young people plan to have. Young people love taking stupid risks and flavoured condoms will not change that.”

Deco Adams says flavoured condoms will exacerbate reckless sex.

“Now that we have flavoured condoms, people will have meaningless sex just for the sake of having sex. People will sleep around for flavour. These condoms will be misused.”

Mashudu Nethwadzi says the flavour of condoms is irrelevant and government must buy privately-owned condom manufacturers as those are the ones people prefer.

“People think free condoms are not good quality. They prefer to buy their favourite brand of condoms. Government must provide people’s favourite brands free of charge if they want people to be safer.”