South Africa's Health Minister Promotes New Condom as "Sexy and Fun"

On Monday, South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang launched the "Choice" condom. The free, government-issued condoms are distributed in a yellow and blue 10-pack. The new condoms replace the no-name condoms given out in clinics and health care centers since 2000 to promote safe sex. "We realized that we needed to change the way we market government condoms to maximize their impact," said Tshabalala-Msimang.

The condom was repackaged after studies showed that South Africans considered the government sheaths as unreliable and of poorer quality than pharmacy-bought brands. Tshabalala-Msimang toured the medical supplies factory Kohrs, Choice's manufacturer, and participated in a quality control process that machine-tested the latex sheaths.

Tshabalala-Msimang linked Choice's "No choice, no play" slogan to the World Cup, which in 2010 South Africa hosts. "2010 -- you won't be there if you don't make the right choice," she said. Some 400 million condoms will be distributed this year, mostly to young South Africans.

"You can still enjoy sex with a condom. Actually, it's much more enjoyable," said Tshabalala-Msimang. "Condoms should not only be a necessity but should be seen as sexy and part of fun."

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