SEDIBENG. – Keeping it simple and staying safe was the message this week as the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) South Africa took its International Condom Day (ICD) celebrations to the streets and schools of Sedibeng.

Under the slogan “Just Use It!”, AHF hosted a series of lively events at Sedibeng TVET College in Vereeniging and Kgoro ya Thuto Secondary School in Heidelberg recently.

The goal was clear: put condoms, one of the cheapest and most effective ways to stop HIV and STIs, back in the spotlight.

This year’s ICD celebrations combined fun, creativity, and education. On February 12, students at Sedibeng TVET College were met with a condom mascot parade, educational games, and free testing services. Experts were on hand to give practical demonstrations and answer honest questions from students in a space free of judgement.

The following day, at Kgoro ya Thuto Secondary School, the focus shifted to a “Yes/No” debate. Students discussed common myths and created a clear platform for learners to challenge misinformation and talk openly about real-life barriers to condom use.

“While HIV and STI burdens remain high across the continent, particularly syphilis and congenital syphilis, Africa is forced to do more with less, making prevention more important than ever,” said Martin Matabishi, AHF Africa Bureau Chief.

“Condoms are cheap, effective, and proven, yet too often people can’t get them or face stigma for using them. With donor funding shrinking, governments must step up domestic health financing and remove barriers to access, which helps ensure condoms are freely and widely available. Cutting prevention now only leads to more infections, higher costs, and lives lost later,” Matabishi concluded.