A new brand of the government’s free condoms, featuring bright blue and yellow packaging, was unveiled by Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang on Monday.
She said the latest trademarked brand, called Choice, replaced the one with the dull grey colour cover and was aimed at making condoms more appealing and desirable.
”The new packaging was tested among young South Africans, who recognised Choice for its funky, punchy and straightforward attitude,” she said at the launch at Kohrs Medical Supplies condom factory in Boksburg.
Tshabalala-Msimang said the condoms, quality assured by the SA Bureau of Standards, were a proven and effective means of preventing sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, as well as unplanned pregnancy.
”While new condoms are available for use by all sexually active South Africans, it is specifically being promoted to those between the ages of 18-35, because of the high HIV infection rates among this population group,” she said.
”There is a very strong desire across all ethnic, gender and age categories to encourage young people to delay sexual onset.”
Tshabalala-Msimang said her department’s theme for the forthcoming Youth Day commemoration was ”Youth celebrating a decade of freedom and seizing the opportunity of democracy”.
”As many of us have learned, HIV and Aids affects every facet of society and by us taking corrective action, we can be assured that we will manage and prevent the spread of the disease,” she said.
”We need to say to our partners: ‘No choice, No play”’
Over 300-million Choice condoms have been distributed so far. – Sapa