Cape at height of major flavoured condoms drought

The demand for the new flavoured male condoms in the Mother City has outstripped the supplier’s capacity, the City of Cape Town said yesterday.

“The flavoured condom range is popular, so much so that the service provider has been unable to keep up with demand,” JP Smith, member of the mayoral committee for safety, security and social services, said.

“Currently, our clinics are out of stock and only expecting a new batch in the next week or two. So, we appeal to the public to be responsible and abstain or use the plain Choice condoms in the meantime.”

The city had joined national efforts this week to highlight the dangers of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Smith said this was in a bid to reduce the number of STIs, including the spread of HIV and Aids.

“STI/Condom Week is annually significant on the local calendar,” Smith said.

“While many STIs can be treated, some people feel uncomfortable accessing treatment for fear of being stigmatised.”

City clinics offered education, advice, diagnosis and the treatment of STIs. Over a 12-month period, 41 153 new STIs were treated – an average of 3 429 a month. This figure was slightly lower than the previous year’s average of 3 599 a month.

To protect from STIs, male and female condoms were distributed free of charge at all clinics, with nearly 50 million male condoms and more than 1.5 million female condoms distributed over a 12-month period.

The distribution of male condoms in the public health sector had been a hot topic of late. Research found that Choice condoms were losing their appeal and a bigger variety of options was sought.

This then prompted the national health department to introduce Max condoms in a range of scents and colours, such as strawberry, grape and vanilla.

Other key service delivery indicators relating to sexual health in 2015/16 included 40 635 reproductive health services to clients under 18 years of age, against a target of 40 000, and 12 954 new clients started on anti-retroviral treatment against a target of 8 540.

“The head-in-the-sand approach has never worked. No one should suffer unnecessarily or spread STIs because they’re worried about judgement or because they don’t know any better.” – ANA

We appeal to the public to use the plain Choice condoms in the meantime.

JP Smith Member of the mayoral committee for safety, security and social services