What people say about condoms to prevent AIDS
What people say about condoms to prevent AIDS
JAKARTA (JP): Condom or no condom?
The promotion on the use of condoms to control the spread of
HIV, the virus responsible for fully-developed AIDS, has stirred
controversy.
Those in favor say condoms are highly effective in preventing
HIV infection. But some people disagree. They even object to
safe-sex campaigns because they are afraid such activities will
promote promiscuity.
The government focuses on religious and family values in the
efforts to curb the sexual transmission of AIDS. State Minister
of Population/Chairman of the National Family Planning Board
Haryono Suyono says condoms are the last choice which should be
used in emergency only.
The Indonesian Council of Ulemas does not support the
campaigns on the use of condoms, either. Chairman of the council,
Ali Yafie, believes that the most effective way to fight AIDS is
by "encouraging people to go back to religious behavior."
How do people react to the controversy? Below is what people
from different professions say about condoms.
Firman Lubis, executive director of Yayasan (Foundation)
Kusuma Buana Foundation: I am sad there are polemics regarding
efforts to fight the HIV/AIDS. We should not quarrel about the
use of condoms to prevent the disease. We should use every method
open to us, promoting religion, family values and also the use of
condoms.
I fully agree with the promotion of religion and family
values. We support abstinence and we encourage people to be
faithful. Yayasan Kusuma Buana does not approve of free sex,
premarital sex or extramarital sex, but we can't be hypocrites.
There are people who practice premarital and extramarital sex.
Scolding those people will not solve a thing. We have to stop
them spreading HIV and protect them from infection.
Research shows that condoms are very effective in prevention
of HIV/AIDS. One study found no holes in condoms at magnification
of 30,000.
HIV will spread more rapidly if people do not get the right
information about the disease and how to avoid it. There is a
need to be open about HIV/AIDS.
I don't agree with the suggestion that people who want to buy
condoms should show a doctor's prescription or a marriage
certificate. It will be difficult to enforce such a regulation.
Nona Warokka, 26, secretary of Bouraq Airlines: We have to
fight AIDS, but I don't agree with the campaign on the use of
condoms. I think the campaigns will encourage promiscuity. What's
more, condoms are not 100 percent effective in preventing the
spread of HIV. It would be better to tell people not to have sex
with anyone other than their spouses.
I think we have to use a moral approach and promote religious
and family values to prevent the spread of HIV.
Roekmini Koesoemo Astoeti, 57, a member of the National
Commission of Human Rights: Will safe-sex campaigns encourage
promiscuity? I think it depends on the mentality of the people.
But, we have to admit that such campaigns might have a negative
impact. People might be encouraged to become unfaithful if they
believe it is really safe to do so.
I don't have any objection to safe-sex campaigns providing
that they are given to selective audiences in certain places,
such as in red-light districts.
Sex education for high school students is okay, but not the
promotion of condoms. That is different.
I am not sure restrictions on the purchase of condoms will
eliminate free sex. You can make regulations requiring people to
show their marriage certificates to buy condoms, but you can't
control their use. Who can guarantee that they won't give the
condoms to others, and who can guarantee they'll use it with
their spouses?
If we want to fight promiscuity, we have to use religion,
education and a moral approach.
Dwiyanto Prihartono, 30, a lawyer of the Jakarta chapter of
the Legal Aid Institute: I can't tolerate the sale of condoms in
red-light districts. I think condoms should be available in
certain places only, like hospitals, health centers and
pharmacies, because condoms have much to do with health. I am not
against the use of condoms. I understand that it can prevent
diseases. But, the promotion on the use of condoms can also
encourage people to have sex outside marriage. Therefore,
campaigns on the use of condoms should be conducted very
carefully.
Ong, 27, manager of a private bank: The thing is not whether
you use condoms. It is about free sex. What is important is how
to stay away from premarital and extramarital sex. I worry that
promotion of condoms will encourage people to practice free sex.
The fear of AIDS will discourage people from being unfaithful.
But, the safe-sex campaigns can make people feel "safe" in
practicing adultery.
So, instead of telling people to use condoms, AIDS activists
should tell them not to have premarital and extramarital sex.
Instead of promoting the use of condoms in red-light districts,
why don't they try to eliminate prostitution?
I would support the government tightening the procedures for
the sale of condoms. People do not need to show their marriage
certificates if they want to buy condoms. ID cards will do.
I am not sure that condoms are really effective in preventing
HIV. The activists say the use of condoms will reduce risks. Why
don't we avoid the risk by staying away from "improper" sex
contacts?
Connie Rahardja, 29, sales manager of Interforum Tours and
Travel: I am for the promotion on the use of condoms because this
can curb the spread of the HIV. People need to know about the
transmission of the virus and how to avoid it.
Safe-sex campaigns are important considering the fact that
there are a lot of people who have sex outside marriage. You
might not like it or disapprove of it, but that happens and you
have to face reality.
A restriction in the sale of condoms will not solve the
problem. This will not change people's sexual behavior.
There are other things the government can do other than
tightening the procedures for the sale of condoms, for example by
providing sex education for high school students. They need the
right information so that they can decide what they may do and
what they should not do.