The ministry of health has asked development partners to increase accessibility of female condoms so as to increase uptake.
The call is made by Dr. Paul Kaggwa, the Assistant Commissioner for Health Promotion and Education as Uganda commemorates the Global Female Condom day.
Kaggwa says raising awareness on the advantages of using female condoms such as power to negotiate for safe sex, addressing Sexually Transmitted Infections and unwanted pregnancies should be supported with increased access.
“Make all prevention opportunities available to the young girls through increased awareness”, Dr. Kaggwa told a gathering at the PATH office in Kampala.
He also the emphasizes for the target groups to be clearly defined so that people like commercial sex workers and exposed populations can easily access the female condom and prevent wide spread sexually transmitted infections. Testimonies from satisfied users were also cited as an effective tool to increase uptake.
Meanwhile, Mr.Williams Kidega, the deputy chief of party at PATH-a health promotion Non Government Organisation says making female condoms available in the mainstream health systems will increase uptake.
Mr Kidega says there is growing need to scale up distribution beyond pilot projects as well as well coordinated advocacy to help raise awareness of the benefits of using the female condom.
According to a 2009 study by United Nations Population Fund only one in every 36 women worldwide was able to access and use a female condom.
The event to mark the Global Female Condom day was organized by PATH.
Story By Catherine Ageno
