Left to right: Mr Dan Nkosi, Principal of South West Gauteng College, Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaldei, and Deputy Minister of Higher education Mduduzi Manana with the rebranded grape-flavoured Choice condoms.
The “First Things First” campaign was launched with on-site medical male circumcision, intra-dermal contraceptive implants and purple-coloured, grape-scented condoms.
A day-long health festival was held at the South West Gauteng College in Johannesburg and marked the First health programme for students and others in the higher education and training sector.
The festival featured Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi performing a live medical male circumcision and implanting two young women with the long-acting intra-dermal contraceptive implant, Implanon.
“Please take this opportunity to get the implant – it will help to ensure that pregnancy does not interrupt your studies. But again, let me emphasise dual protection. Always use a condom even when you are using other contraceptive methods,” Dr Motsoaledi reminded young women students at the launch.
Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mduduzi Manana led the charge for combination prevention of HIV, STIs and TB. He made the link between the health of students and the number of successful graduates who complete their courses each year.
But the highlight of the day was the introduction of the rebranded government-issued Choice condoms, which are now coloured and scented, to the student population.
Dr Motsoaledi said: “Today’s re-launch represents a very important occasion – in addition to HCT and MMC, we are ed and scented male condoms in the public sector. You will recall that I announced last year that government will be rebranding the Choice condom in our effort to increase condom use.
”Following the launch of the 2015 First Things First at the South West Gauteng College, the programme will be activated across 429 campuses within all public Technical Vocational Education and Training campuses and universities to reach out to a student population of two million.
“Last year, First Things First reached a critical milestone. We helped 100 000 young people learn their HIV status and use this as a stepping stone for protecting their health,” said Dr Ramneek Ahluwalia, director of the Higher Education and Training HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS).
HEAIDS, a constituent of SANAC, is a national collaboration that is devoted to promoting education and awareness of HIV and other related health and social factors that set back progress by young people. Championed by the Department of Higher Education and Training, HEAIDS ensures that information and access to products such as condoms and services for testing, prevention and treatment are available within the higher education and training sector.