Facebook
This entry is a part of our World AIDS Day Blogathon. During this week we share our experiences, stories, and ideas about how HIV affects young people around the world. Join the blogathon .
The other day I was at the University of Abuja with my team to give out stickers for publicity. It was one of the ways we thought we could get more young people aware and involved in the work we are doing. In the course of this, I had to explain why it was important for them to blog, share their stories and actively participate in making their voices heard.
The other day I was at the University of Abuja with my team to give out stickers for publicity. It was one of the ways we thought we could get more young people aware and involved in the work we are doing. In the course of this, I had to explain why it was important for them to blog, share their stories and actively participate in making their voices heard.
I talked about ASRH issues that young people face such as HIV/AIDS, Abortion, STD, Early Marriage and so on. They were so enthusiastic to learn more as they all kept asking me questions about these challenges and what we are doing to address them. I also told them about how we advocate for young people to policy makers and how much success we’ve had so far.
Some issues a lot of them raised were on contraceptives. Over 90% of the females had never seen a female condom before not to talk of having access to it. Though most of the guys said they had seen it and they were even describing how it looks to the ladies. It was hilarious! A young girl stood up and said “if my boyfriend refuses to use a condom, I should have the liberty to use a female condom that is affordable and accessible.” This makes a lot of sense but how can women stand up for themselves when it comes to having protected sex? According to the United Nations agency, one in five deaths among women in this age group (15-44) are linked to unsafe sex throughout the world.
In developing countries, unsafe sex is the leading risk factor for these women of childbearing age with others including lack of access to contraceptives and iron deficiency. The WHO said "Women who do not know how to protect themselves from such infections, or who are unable to do so, face increased risks of death or illness," WHO said in a 91-page report. "So do those who cannot protect themselves from unwanted pregnancy or control their fertility because of lack of access to contraception."
Now this explains to me why a lot of women have been catching diseases. Here in Nigeria, statistic shows that the rate of women who are infected and affected are more than men. I won’t be wrong if I say it is the same globally.
As a matter of fact, in my local community where I live, I visited the general hospital to collect data on the number of people who come for HIV testing and counseling and from the data it was really clear that women are more infected than the men and most of these women are not married.
This for me I think is a major issue that we should address and focus on. There is a lot we can achieve in the area of dropping the rates of unintended pregnancies, STI’s and so on if females have liberty and access to female condoms. This is not to say that this is the only problem that has led to the high rate of infected and affected women. Some even identified illiteracy and ignorance as causes to more women getting infected and affected.
Presently, I don’t think the Nigerian government is doing anything to address this issue. I had a meeting with the Chairman House Committee on HIV/AIDS and one of the things I discussed with him was on the issue of unavailability of female condoms. He made commitments to discuss with the National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (NACA). I will follow up and hope he brings this issue to their notice.
If our leaders will only have a clear picture (Vision) of where they want to lead their people to, issues like this wouldn’t even be an issue because they will have an understanding and knowledge of the purpose for their position. Our world is such a small place and it is our world. Let’s all stand up to our responsibilities. The change we desire and seek will better improve the life and well being of our generation and even the unborn generation I am so looking forward to a time when female condoms will be as available as male condoms, where young women will experience liberty in their sexual lives and not continue to live under oppression.
Get email updates and action alerts:
by Anatic09
When you lament the fact that most women who you've spoken to in Nigeria have never heard of or seen female condoms, I don't think that's necessarily unique to Nigeria. In fact, here at universities in America, where contraception is readily available, most of my peers have never encountered female condoms, and are very resistant to the idea of them. I do think, though, that they could provide a good solution for women who are looking to protect themselves and whose partners are unwilling to wear condoms themselves.
The major concern, at least in America, is the price and accessibility. Male condoms are distributed for free on many campuses, and are pretty cheap in stores, whereas female condoms are few and far between, not to mention expensive.
Keep up the great investigative work!