Gorontalo Rejects Free Condom Distribution

Gorontalo (Antara) - North Gorontalo District Head Indra Yasin in Gorontalo Province said on Saturday that he rejected calls from those urging the free distribution of condoms in his area. He noted that HIV/AIDS prevention efforts focusing on distributing free condom to the community was unacceptable and against religious norms. "The free condom distribution movement is indirectly allowing people to engage n free sex outside marriage," Indra remarked. Therefore, he was against the free condom distribution movement in North Gorontalo district, saying that such a move would corrupt the younger generation. The recognition of National Condom Week from December 1 to 7, 2013 was also rejected by various parties. The Indonesian Ulema Council's (MUI) Chairman KH Amidhan has said that his party disagreed with recognizing National Condom Week. "The MUI does not agree with the implementation of the National Condom Week, because it only suits the interests of the condom industry, rather than promote the use of contraceptives," Amidhan said last Monday. He noted that the promotion of condoms could be misinterpreted by teenagers and might encourage them to engage in free sex. Amidhan further stated that sex and reproduction education for the public, including teenagers, was far more important than the promotion of condom use. The idea of holding a National Condom Week was initiated by the Ministry of Health and organized by the National AIDS Eradication Commission (KPAN). But Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi said the condom use campaign was not a forbidden issue. "It is more dangerous to distribute cigarettes than to launch a campaign on the use of condoms," the Minister noted. (*)