NGO promotes use of female condom

The acting Central Regional Director of Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), Ms Rita Lodonu, has encouraged women to patronise female condoms to enable them to avoid contracting Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), and prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Hope for Future Generations is a non-governmental organisation with a focus on improving health, education and socio-economic welfare of women and children.

Ms Lodonu said this when the HFFG organised a two-day condom promotion, particularly female condoms, and HIV/AIDS Testing and Counselling (HTC) for the people of Cape Coast during the Fetu festival. 

She said although many ladies preferred that their partners use the male condoms rather than they using the female ones, the female condoms were equally good.

 “It is just that many people do not know how to use it.”

According to her, those who know how to use the female condoms see it as comfortable.

She observed the need for more public educational campaigns to sensitise people to the use of the female condoms.

Touching on the rationale for the exercise, Ms Lodonu said, “We have realised that after festivals, a lot of young girls get pregnant and other infectious diseases increase, that is why we decided to bring the condom promotion and HIV Testing and Counselling during this time”

Ms Lodonu, however, said although the exercise had been welcomed by the people, the women were not showing interest in the female condoms. 

She urged the youth to get tested to know their HIV status in order to enable them to live more responsible sexual lives.

“It is a bold step everyone must take,” she said, adding that it was better to know your status than not knowing it.

The Administrative Assistant with the Cape Coast office of the HFFG, Ms Martha Hammond, indicated that most of the women did not know how to wear the female condom and that prevented them from showing interest in its use - they think it will come off during sexual intercourse. 

She said despite the various campaigns on STIs, people were still living in ignorance.

Ms Hammond explained that people were not willing to do the HIV/AIDS testing to know their status due to the stigmatisation and discrimination against HIV/AIDS patients in the Ghanaian societies.

She was, however, optimistic that after the sensitisation exercise, many women would show interest in the use of the female condoms.