One hopes there is more demand and supply of female condoms in Burma / Myanmar in the future.
[him] moderator
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Call for cheap access to female condoms
By Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation
Published on May 29, 2009
The government was urged yesterday to make more effort to help women get access to female condoms, which were described as an important tool to reduce the risk of HIV/Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhoea and syphilis.
"The government should work hard to increase alternative options for women to protect themselves from HIV/Aids infection," said Tissadee Sawangying, the coordinator of a health and opportunity network.
She was speaking at the 12th National Aids Conference this week at Impact Muang Thong Thani Exhibition Centre.
She said female condoms were important for women who had limited capacity to get their husbands or partners to wear condoms during sexual intercourse.
"Female condoms could help women have more power to negotiate with their partner to have safe sex," she said.
Female condoms have been available since 1988. The first version was made from polyurethane, known as FC Female Condom. A newer version made of nitrile rubber was called FC2.
The product appeared less popular among couples now, as they had been difficult to use and uncomfortable. There had also been complaints they made distracting crinkling noises.
But, they could also be used by gay men.
Dr Taweesap Siraprapasiri, of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), said female condoms became more popular after a manufacturer made it more "comfortable" for women by reducing the crinkling noise.
Production volume has risen from 12 million to 26 million over the past four years, with female condoms distributed to 90 countries, and available in convenience stores and public places in 15 nations.
Zimbabwe distributed 3.5 million female condoms a year, while Brazil distributed four million. In Burma, the government helped provide 150,000, while the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation supported grants to help the Indian government distribute 500,000 female condoms a year.
The product could be made available in Thailand in limited quantities but would be expensive, as they need to be imported.
Tawee said Thailand started to study use of female condoms in 1990 but the project was suspended and ended last year. He said Thailand did not make enough effort to help women get access to them.
"The point is how to make female condoms become another option for women to prevent them getting HIV," he said.
But Tissadee said female condoms should be added to the universal health scheme so women could use them to prevent them getting HIV. Moreover, government should eliminate import hurdles and help make them cheaper and affordable.
http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/05/29/national/national_30103880.php
