The Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr. Prosper Akanbong, says feedback from some Ghanaian men indicates that condoms distributed under national programmes are sometimes considered too small.
According to him, the AIDS Commission has been conducting surveys to help provide and distribute condoms that are more preferred by the Ghanaian users.
Speaking on Joy News ahead of World Condom Day which falls on the day before Valentines day, Dr. Akanbong disclosed that the Commission has been assessing public perception about the condoms it distributes.
“We have taken a survey of people’s perceptions of the few condoms that we distribute. Ghanaians say they’re too thick, they don’t give them sensitivity and all that. So we’re putting all that together and very soon we’ll come out with a national condom strategy.”
He indicated that the Commission is reviewing the findings to tailor its condom procurement and distribution to better suit public preferences.
“So that we can refashion the kind of condoms we’re doing to meet people’s needs. Maybe what we’re providing is not what they want. We’re also doing that study alongside the use of other condoms that are not under our program, that people go to the pharmacy and buy. We’re taking all the statistics to see whether there is a preferential direction we should go.”
“There were sometimes that the condoms in the system, they said they were smaller for Ghanaian men and that they were bursting because Ghanaian men are quite endowed,” he noted.
He then announced that February 13, observed globally as World Condom Day, is being marked in Ghana for the first time.
“13th of February has always been world condom day and for the first time Ghana will be observing. Ghana AIDS commission is leading it together with the AIDS Help Foundation who are now entering Ghana for the first time.”
According to him, the day is aimed at building awareness around condom use as part of HIV prevention efforts.
“This is where we build awareness for the use of condoms. It’s part of a strategy to make sure people get to know that there’s international condom day and let’s use condoms,”
To commemorate the day, the Ghana AIDS Commission is conducting a nationwide distribution of thousands of free condoms and HIV self-test kits.
The distribution is taking place at high-traffic and youth-centered locations across the country, including lorry stations, markets, bus terminals, nightclubs, bars, sports stadiums, and selected health facilities. Condom dispensers and vending machines have also been installed at vantage points in several regions to allow for discreet access.
Health authorities say the initiative forms part of broader efforts to reduce new HIV infections and promote safer sexual practices nationwide.
