Just reading The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett - The book begins with the death of a man named Wally Sonky, who was stuffed into a barrel of molten rubber. You see, Mr. Sonky was known for making, among other things, little "wallies" - a rather life-threatening business in a city full of orthodox dwarfs who don't even allow their women to shave, let alone use a condom.
So it seems appropriate that I blog about something similar - an effort by the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) in India to spread the use of these wallies among the traditionally backward (and hence vulnerable) social groups. They have gone about giving condoms to the women of a rural community north of Delhi, and have educated them as to its benefits. The male-dominated society has responded well, and seems willing to take these measure to prevent the spread of STDs and unplanned parenthood.
This, to me, is a big deal. I very strongly believe that, whether one uses it or not, the option to use a condom without any social stigma associated to it should be available to every living human being. Unfortunately, though, there are a great many places in the world where using a condom is considered a sin, and a prevention of natural (ie. god-given) functions of the human body. Of course, they don't stop to think about the economics of raising children, or, for that matter, getting Aids.
BBC NEWS | South Asia | Condoms help tackle Indian taboos
So it seems appropriate that I blog about something similar - an effort by the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) in India to spread the use of these wallies among the traditionally backward (and hence vulnerable) social groups. They have gone about giving condoms to the women of a rural community north of Delhi, and have educated them as to its benefits. The male-dominated society has responded well, and seems willing to take these measure to prevent the spread of STDs and unplanned parenthood.
This, to me, is a big deal. I very strongly believe that, whether one uses it or not, the option to use a condom without any social stigma associated to it should be available to every living human being. Unfortunately, though, there are a great many places in the world where using a condom is considered a sin, and a prevention of natural (ie. god-given) functions of the human body. Of course, they don't stop to think about the economics of raising children, or, for that matter, getting Aids.
BBC NEWS | South Asia | Condoms help tackle Indian taboos
"We first began marketing the female condom primarily among sex workers three years ago," he says.
"We then decided to introduce this among rural women, since they are also a vulnerable group with little access to public health services.
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