South Africa To Use Flavoured Condoms To Tackle HIV

South Africa's government will distribute coloured and flavoured condoms among students to end "condom fatigue", the health minister has said. Aaron Motsoaledi's comments came after a survey showed that condom usage had fallen in South Africa. The decline in usage may be because "the standard-issued choice condoms just aren't cool enough", he added. South Africa has some 6.4 million HIV-positive people - more than in any other country. The survey, by South Africa's Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), showed the number of people with HIV had risen from 10.6% in 2008 to 12.2% in 2012. This was because of the combined effects of "new infections and a successfully expanded antiretroviral treatment [ART] programme", the report said. But the study shows that condom use had declined, especially in the 15 to 24 age group. The 2008 survey showed that 85% of males used them and 66% of females, but this had dropped to 67% and 50% respectively in 2012. "We need to inject enthusiasm into the condom campaign, and we are about to start rolling out new types of free, coloured condoms which are also flavoured," Mr Motsoaledi said in his response to the report. The condoms will be distributed for free at South Africa's universities and colleges, he added.