General News of Thursday, 9 May 2002

Source: .

Students Don't Know Much About Condom Use

A symposium on HIV/AIDS at the University of Ghana, Legon, on Wednesday exposed the lack of knowledge about the use of condoms and HIV/AIDS among students.

The symposium organised jointly by the "Movement Against AIDS," and "Students Against AIDS," both HIV/AIDS awareness groups on campus saw students asking "ridiculous" questions that gave away their level of ignorance about the disease, which has become a national disaster.

"Some don't know how to use the condom. It may shock you; after using it, some wash and dry, then use it again," a male student source told the Ghana News Agency in an interview.
Pressed further about his assertion, the source said, "I am on the floor with them, I have friends who indulge in sex, but they don't know how to use the condom."
He said he believed the message on how to use condoms had not gone down well with many students on campus. "Even I don't know much about it and I think the condoms should not be sold."
A female student who learnt that one could go in for the HIV test occasionally even when one was married asked, "Ah! I don't understand. Why should I go for it? He is my husband."
"There is no need to use the condom when you know that the lady you are moving with will be your future partner. I intend marrying her so I can have sex aids with her without a condom," a male student said.
Mr Kwabena Twum Barimah, Acting Co-ordinator of the Movement Against AIDS, said the group was formed about a month ago to sensitise students about the massive spread of HIV/AIDS and the need to combat it.
He said the movement is also collaborating with like groups on the campus to help fight the menace, adding that by the end of this year the group would have collected data on the level of awareness among the students and those living with the virus.