Doctors for Life (DFL) on Friday applauded Minister of Education Naledi Pandor’s public condemnation of condom distribution at schools.
Describing the practice as a ”reckless experiment” with human life, DFL called on the minister to stop the distribution of condoms at schools, and to promote abstinence as the alternative to safe sex.
”At present, the Department of Health supports the ‘ABC approach’: A for abstinence, B for be faithful and C for condoms. DFL supports the introduction of the A and the B part of the strategy. We have found however, that the condom message confuses the youth and nullifies the impact of the other two messages,” DFL spokesperson Heinrich Botes said on Friday.
Pandor on Wednesday condemned the distribution of condoms at schools, saying learners should concentrate on their studies and not engage in sexual activity.
”I don’t understand why 13-year-olds are engaged in sexual activity at that age. For young people the message is abstain, abstain and abstain,” she said.
Botes said past experience and studies show that the distribution of condoms as an HIV/Aids prevention strategy promotes promiscuity and gives youth a false sense of security.
”Learners are usually not informed of the 20% failure rate of condoms. The effect of a mixed message can be found in the fact that, time and again, the government has had to admit failure with existing programmes in stemming the Aids pandemic,” he said.
The failure of condom-based strategies stands in stark contrast to the success of abstinence-based programmes that present a clear and consistent message.
”The success of Aids-prevention programmes does not rest on the availability of a technical device, but lies in the promotion of value systems,” Botes said. — Sapa