It’s been three decades since HIV was first discovered and throughout this time there has been only one female-controlled prevention technology on the market – the femidom, better known as the female condom.
Efforts to encourage use through increased provision, social marketing and distribution of female condoms have been minor, despite the fact that research confirms that women are at a disproportionate risk of HIV exposure because of their physiology and other social and structural factors. There is recognition that the HIV epidemic is largely feminised; the NSP 2012–2016 identifies young women between the ages of 15 and 24 as a key target group for HIV prevention efforts.
It is against this background that the SANAC Women’s Sector recently hosted a national female condom advocacy workshop bringing together policy makers, researchers and scientists to engage with women’s sector advocates. Women’s Sector representatives from seven of the country’s nine provinces participated.
The meeting was driven by the need to reposition the female condom as a critical empowerment tool to negotiate for safer sex, and the need to equip SANAC Women’s Sector members and provincial representatives with an advocacy and campaign strategy to lobby provincial, district and local AIDS councils to pay greater attention to increasing awareness and promoting the accessibility, distribution and use of female condoms.
It was agreed that the SANAC Women’s Sector must play a leading role in broadening and strengthening the support base for female condoms which will include sharing knowledge and expertise and soliciting explicit commitment to popularise and advocate for the increased availability of female condoms.
Moving forward the sector will develop an advocacy campaign that will:
- Generate attention for the female condom at all levels
- Initiate advocacy activities within the SANAC Women’s Sector on the female condom
- Promote the exchange of information and know-how
- Lobby for optimal coordination of efforts in promoting access, distribution and use