South Africa, Bribes, Defective Condoms and an HIV/AIDS scare
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When I was living in Johannesburg, South Africa I somehow ended up in a conversation with this guy at the university theater about AIDS and condoms. Eagerly, he explained that HIV/AIDS is so prevalent in South Africa not because folks do not use condoms, but because the condoms just don’t work. I did not immediately write him off; instead, I was curious as to how he came to this conclusion. He explained that it made no sense that HIV/AIDs was concentrated in one place, especially a place where so many people attest to using condoms.
I had not thought about this guy or his story until last night when blacklooks tipped me off to a story uncovered by the Sowetean last week.
and RISTA’s take:
FORGET CONDOMIZING!
Why? you ask. Have I suddenly joined the moralist camp and am preaching abstinence until (and beyond) marriage?
No, I have not joined them. I am simply acknowledging that they were right all along! They argued that behavior change was the way to go, and clearly, it is.
’nuff said. See for yourselves.
20 million condoms recalled in South Africa. Because a person at the South African Bureau of Standards was bribed by the manufacturers to pass faulty condoms. This just after government had managed to convince a large number of people to use condoms.
As of last week it was reported that 22 million condoms are being recalled in South Africa because Sphiwe Fikizolo, a testing manager at the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), the entity responsible for assuring that all condoms produced in the country conform to World Health Organization standards, allegedly accepted money from the manufacturer (Zalatex) in return for certifying defective condoms. Zalatex, allegedly bribed a government official to certify almost four million faulty condoms as up to standard. As a result, the South African government is recalling all 20 million Choice brand condoms produced by the company.
SABS audit of LSP condom test records
22 of 91 batches did not meet standards
12 batches had holes
9 batches were more likely to burst or tear
1 batch risked lubrication leaks, allowing deterioration
Additionally, the South African Department of Health writes that “…the records of 13 batches have not been traced.” Read More
Dang.
Choice, yes I remember Choice. They are the same brand of condoms I used to hand out with the Treatment Action Campaign in Cape Town back in 2005. It was the whole condomization campaign focused on university students and youth. We passed out condoms, info and addresses to testing sites. Hmmm…If SABS was bribed in 2007, who is to say that this bribery and the certification of faulty condoms doesn’t go back earlier. Were Choice condoms ever effective? I don’t know, but the South African government is instructing folks to get immediate testing and counseling. An HIV/AIDS scare on top of an HIV/AIDS epidemic is just frightening, especially considering that there is still SO MUCH work to do to ensure that ARV medication is accessible in the first place.
There has been a dangerous degree of denial in the Mbeki administration. In fact, I was not until the end of 2006 that South Africa, a country with an HIV-positive population of 5.5 million (only second to India) formally recognized AIDS. For quite some time Mbeki’s public declaration of ‘personally, I don’t know anybody who has died of AIDS,’ his rejection of the connections between HIV and AIDS, matched with minster of health Tshabalala-Msimang rejection of ARVs in favor of a ‘beetroot, garlic, lemon and the african potato’ alternative diet, instigated international condemnation and the death of 800-1,000 South Africans a day. It was not until 2002 (!) that the government, which did not provide AIDS drugs decided to provide these drugs. this was only following a lawsuit filled by AIDS activists. Read more on Mbeki’s continuing denalism. The Council for Foreign Affairs reports that this August, South African President Thabo Mbeki fired a health official (SABC) “widely credited with turning round his government’s previously lamentable performance on HIV/AIDS.” Mbeki attributed the dismissal to an “inability to work as part of a collective” however, the dismissed official argues that she was fired due to clashes over AIDS treatment.
The recall undermines and threatens the condomization and prevention campaigns in South Africa which relied on visible and public efforts to distribute condoms and educate about safer sex. Furthermore, it has undermined whatever lingering trust in the South African government. There have been definite accusation that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is a conspiracy and this does not help. There have also been accusations that the HIV/AIDS are man-made. Whatever the case, the condom recall is going to raise some questions, concerns and anger that will complicate “cultural” and political mistrust of the Department of Health. Health department spokesperson Sibani Mngadi said the recall had left communities suspicious of the government’s free condoms.
Some responses to the news of the defective condoms:
Those concerns were shared by people IRIN/PlusNews spoke to in one of Johannesburg’s busy shopping malls.
“I don’t like the government condoms. I don’t think they’re safe. I’d rather buy condoms from the garage than get them from the clinic, I just don’t think they’re safe.” Cindy Ndlebe, 21, personal trainer
“I used to use them all the time due to the fact I thought they were stronger because they were free. I mean, I’d been using them for three years and only two broke. No more. I was using them because they were easy to access, they’re always there.” Mapitso Hlaodi, 27, hairstylist
“I saw it in the paper Monday or Tuesday and said, ‘Oh my God, let me check my condom.’ And my condom was Choice [the affected brand] and it means I’m in danger, but I just continue because I have no choice. I’ve been using them for years.” Monty Mawele, 47, security guard
“I don’t think the government has a response. I don’t think the government actually knows what it wants to do or what it’s story is with the whole HIV/AIDS issue.” Natashe Thorp, 22, student
“I think the government is right, it’s good for the people. One thing for sure, the government cares for the people.“ Gift Ndlovu, 25, waiter
David Nowitz, senior marketing manager of the Society for Family Health (SFH), says
“I think those behind the scandal have done the AIDS prevention cause a huge disservice. However, it’s important for people to remember that we’re talking about the actions of a couple of individuals, and not a whole public healthcare system.” Read More
Mngadi continues to emphasize that not all the condoms were defective and encourages the continued use of government condoms except for those with the batch number: 4308/ZLX. He continues with the assertion that
“The condoms that have been produced by the other suppliers are of good quality. We have requested the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) to check these condoms and they have assured us of the quality.” Read More
I want to ask Mngadi if he really believes people are going to trust that the other condoms are safe to use? Especially, when people may assume that the SABS was caught this time, but may have done the same thing in previous years. Who is going to feel safe? Who is going to be at east? I am assuming that people do not check for a batch number before they open a condom, so who is going to even know if they used the 4308/ZLX batch and know that they need to be tested? Is everyone being contacted or gathered to hear the news about the recall? If not, I am sure the rumor mill has already starting turning and people may either rush to get tested or out of fear, refuse testing. People may get hopeless and do God knows what.
And really, some folks may refuse to ever use condoms.
Some people are more optimistic than I am. The Centre for AIDS Development, Research and Evaluation (CADRE), director Dr Warren Parker argued that this situation provides an opportunity to rethink prevention as “multi-dimensional.” He suggests that there is “still a need to reduce concurrent and multi-partner sexual partnerships” and possibly this could be a new space for prevention efforts. Yes, I can see this. While I respect and agree that we need a ‘multi-dimensional” approach that does not rely on condomization alone, I am a bit taken aback by the moment to express such a sentiment. And, I wonder if at this moment CADRE could best use its resources to reach out, counsel and support communities affected by the recall. I don’t know, maybe I am being sensitive. I am not sure if I believe that now–when many people are wondering about their health and their lives–that we should think of this moment as an “opportunity,” especially when there may be folks thinking this is far from a moment of opportunity. I guess that is the difference between institutional personal levels of analysis. An opportunity for the government to reflect, reorder and act, may be moments of personal anguish, doubt and anger.
I am beyond disgusted with the situation and hope the SABS official and the Zalatex company are thoroughly punished. This has me wondering just where else in the world faulty condoms are passed off…
One author writes
It seems absurd that, as alleged, it took only a few relatively small bribes to get the condoms approved. The fact that more checks and balances weren’t in place, points to a systemic failure, which points to a lack of proper leadership.
As it is though, there is a very real possibility that some of the defective condoms may have contributed to new HIV infections – a sickening thought indeed.
First, I am glad that the SABS official and 2 Zalatex official are being drawn up on charges. I would think that charges for attempted murder seem appropriate here. Second, I agree that there is a lack of check and balances and poor leadership, but I would not put this all on the South African government. However, both parties–the SABS official and Zalatex representatives engaged in an immoral pact. We should not be guided by the principle of “it’s wrong if I am caught.” We should be guided by an appreciation and respect for the lives and healths of others. So, irrespective of whether checks and balances were in place or proper leadership was apparent, the bribe should have never occurred and we should not surrender to a discourse of this situation being about checks and balances alone. Don’t we (or at least shouldn’t we) have our own moral checks and balances that say putting millions of lives at risk for profit is wrong? Certainly, the South African government needs to reevaluate certain certification processes and oversight, but this is not an excuse, nor does it alleviate personal responsibility. 3 men decided it would be a good idea to put lives at serious risk–where is their conscience? Still, I am interested to see who else is involved–that is if there are others.
Published on September 1, 2007 at 1:14 pm.
20 Comments.
Filed under news/politics, ridiculousness, Africa.
