Women told to pack condoms for husbands when they travel

In a bold move to tackle HIV and STIs, Migori’s Public Health Chief has urged married women to embrace protection as part of their partners’ travel essentials

Married women should consider packing condoms for their husbands before they set off on long trips, according to Migori’s Public Health Chief Officer, Marbel Chanzu.

During the World Condom Day celebrations at Rongo University in Migori County, Chanzu boldly urged women to embrace a more open-minded approach, granting their husbands the liberty to ‘do their thing’ while away on extended journeys. “When your husband heads off on a long trip, pack condoms for him. Give him the freedom to take care of his needs, knowing that you’ve got him covered,” she advised with a wink

She emphasised that promoting condom use is vital in preventing HIV/Aids, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unintended pregnancies.

She also pointed out that women, too, should be carrying condoms. “It’s important so that when temptation strikes, you are ready to protect yourself,” Chanzu remarked.

She further urged people to dispose of condoms responsibly and to be more confident when purchasing them, noting that the stigma around buying condoms over the counter is slowly fading. “Gone are the days when people were shy about buying condoms. It’s well understood that they are essential for health, so there’s no reason to fear,” she said.

What numbers say

According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), only 24 per cent of women and 45 per cent of men aged 15-49, who had multiple partners in the past year, used condoms during their most recent sexual encounter.

The survey revealed that the average number of sexual partners in a lifetime was two for women and up to seven for men. “This means many are engaging in unsafe sex. Having more than one partner goes against abstinence and faithfulness. Therefore, condom use is key to preventing HIV and STIs,” explained Dr Stephen Ndolo, Director at the National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC).

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The theme for World Condom Day, “Just Use It”, aimed to normalise condom use and dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding it.

“One misconception is that condoms are linked to promiscuity and immorality. We want to change that narrative and present condoms as an essential tool for self-protection,” he said.