Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision - December 24, 2004
Apollo Mubiru
Under the new condom distribution policy, post-shipment testing for condoms becomes another requirement.
In a statement to parliament on reports that the Engabu condoms had a foul smell and were of poor quality, Muhwezi said his ministry and the Uganda HIV/AIDS Control Project found out that samples that were sent to MS Valedor AB in Sweden for testing had an unpleasant smell and holes.
He said his ministry suspended the distribution of the 10 million Engabu condoms in stock.
Condoms, Muhwezi said, that failed tests would be rejected and destroyed. He said the destruction of the condoms would be done in Nakasongola through an incineration.
Muhwezi said in order to facilitate quality control, the health ministry would acquire its own condom-testing machine.
He said the HIV/AIDS control project would buy the machine.
The machine will ease post-shipment and periodic testing of random samples of condoms drawn from all over the country, he said.
Muhwezi said as plans go on to procure the machine, laboratories outside Uganda approved by the World Health Organisation, would carry out the testing.
He said NDA would verify the pre-shipment records from the suppliers to ensure that they are okay and give a final approval on them.
Muhwezi said abstinence was still the safest way of preventing sexual transmission of HIV. For those already in sexual relationships, he said mutual faithfulness was the best choice.
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