article from newspaper: The New Vision (Uganda), May 22, 2004

Stick to the ABC Method

President Museveni last weekend criticised the alleged distribution of condoms in primary schools. The Rakai district chairman has just told him at a rally that HIV had declined in Rakai because his people had accepted condoms.

HIV educators in Rakai say that they have never ever given out condoms in primary schools. They are amazed by the suggestion. Indeed, it would be incredible if any group anywhere in Uganda had given condoms to pupils all HIV groups and the Ministry of Education agree that primary pupils should abstain. No one casually distributes condoms to kids.

However, the consensus among the dozens of stakeholders in the Presidential Initiative on AIDS Strategy for Communication to Youth O(OPIASCY) is that pupils in upper primary need to know the scientific fact that condoms help to protect against HIV.

At the same time, PIASCY teaches them that they are too young for sex, sex is for marriage, and that marriage should always be after 18 between two people who have tested for HIV. The President can rest assured that the messages for pupils are responsible.

However the President must not associate condoms and HIV with promiscuity and prostitutes. It is deeply hurtful to people who have HIV. It insults responsible people who use condoms to stay safe or protect others. It is also factually incorrect.

At present in Uganda the majority of new infections are occurring in married women who simply have sex with their husbands. Are those women promiscuous? No!

President Museveni must not deviate from his successful strategy of ABC: Abstinence, Be Faithful, Use Condoms. Condoms are part of the solution to HIV.

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