Malawi women urged to use female condoms
People in Nkhata Bay District have been encouraged to use female condoms as one way of fighting sexually transmitted infections and preventing unplanned pregnancies.
The remarks were made on Tuesday by district health officer Albert Mkandawire when he officially opened a two-day training workshop organised by Church and Society of CCAP Synod of Livingstonia.
At the workshop, participants raised fears about female condoms; saying they are associated with many dangers.
“For instance, reports have it that a female condom can go straight into the womb while others claim that it causes itching,” said one of the participants who did not want to be named.
But Mkandawire said the condoms are user-friendly, as such, people should not “read much into the misconceptions about them”.
“The [female condom] makers in the United Kingdom already ensured that the condoms are user-friendly and good for people’s health. They are also effective in preventing infections and unplanned pregnancies,” he said.
Mkandawire urged medical personnel to help assure the public that female condoms are just as good as male condoms.
Female condom use project manager Limbani Gondwe said in an interview Church and Society is implementing a one-year project to increase awareness on female condoms to encourage sexually active men and women to be using them.
Participants at the workshop, which took place at Nkhata Bay Boma, were drawn from Usisya, Chintheche, Chitheka, Kachere and Mpamba, among other areas in the district.
