Experts raise awareness on safe sexual practice for females
Experts have expressed concern about the low level of awareness on safe sex through the adoption of female condoms among Nigerian youth.
Speaking during a youth activity tagged, ‘Youth Buzz on female condoms’ in Abuja earlier this week, Dr Sekina Bello, Senior Programme Advisor, Reproductive Health, and Kosi Izundu, Programme Officer, Reproductive Health and Family Planning of Pathfinder International said many youth do not know how to harness the benefits of female condoms.
They said knowledge and utilization of female condoms would go a long way in preventing sexually transmitted diseases, teenage pregnancies, unsafe abortions and HIV/AIDS among others.
Dr Sekina Bello said that Pathfinder International’s programme on female condom commenced in Nigeria in 2016 and initially focused on training health workers, but is focusing on youth this year.
“Generally awareness about female condoms in the population is very low. According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHIS 2013), less than 0.5 per cent of youths are aware about it. With more than 40% of the total population being young people, if less than 0.5 per cent are aware, that means that majority of young people are not aware.”
Izundu, said the sensitization activity brought together young people representing different groups such as those in or out of school, those living with disabilities, young people living with HIV/AIDS and those working with youth friendly facilities.
“50 per cent of the youth who attended this sensitization programme today have never seen a female condom before but now they are better informed,” Izundu added.
Participants at the programme called on government and other stakeholders to make female condoms more affordable, accessible and available for young people.
Comrade Musa Muazu Musa, a programme assistant with the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities called for local production of female condoms and that it should be made tax free , and regulated from the highest levels to the grassroots to make it cheap and accessible to people.
Gloria Blessing Ogbodo of the Association of Positive Youths Living with HIV in Nigeria (APIN) and Grace David Iho of Education as a Vaccine called for reduction in price of female condoms and producing it together with male condoms in packs.