Condoms in Kenya for free…
GARISSA, 12 May 2008 - Muslim leaders in Kenya’s North Eastern Province have resolved to campaign against the promotion of condoms as a means of preventing HIV. The decision was made after a recent meeting on the theme of “Islam and Health”, attended by more than 60 Muslim scholars and teachers in the provincial capital of Garissa. “A lot of money is being wasted to poison our community … a huge amount of money is spent on buying condoms, buying immorality,” Sheikh Mohamud Ali, of Garissa district, told IRIN/PlusNews.
Money? Can you say “foreign aid”?
Misconceptions abound
Abdi Welli, a taxi driver in Garissa, told IRIN/PlusNews he agreed with the clerics that condoms should be banned. He believed the widespread myth that condoms and contraceptives were laced with the HI virus. “We know the condoms are not safe … if you want to contract the virus that causes AIDS, then use [a condom],” he said. “After all, we have heard in the past that the Western world is using the condom to eliminate Africans, and Muslims in particular.” Discussing sexual issues is traditionally taboo, which has led to widespread ignorance about HIV and AIDS in the northeast.
Wow. Can you imagine that? He thinks condoms cause HIV.
I wonder who has been teaching him that…
…attended by more than 60 Muslim scholars and teachers…
Oh. Right.
Got this from Point Rider Republican.
May 17th, 2008 at 19:55
And of course the followers will buy the story, and the enlightened aid workers are back to square one over night. Ignorance and dogma is as endemic as HIV is in Africa.
May 18th, 2008 at 17:52
I think one taboo I want to uphold is teaching how to use a condom to grade school kids. I don’t want us to go there, that’s too young in my opinion.
But look at us now. Dogma and taboos are killing people. We got over it and we face some of these challenges head on…at the risk of teaching condom use to preteens.
Sometimes we go overboard, but at least we’re onboard.