On Wednesday September 16, Rwanda banned the UK-manufactured condoms with the brand name "Hot”.

Tests proved that the condoms, when subjected to the electronic "freedom from holes” test, which involves filling them with water, sprung leaks, therefore posing a danger to users.

Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS), the National Aids Control Commission and the Ministry of Health have responded fast and put out alerts, warning the public about the condoms and making sure they are not sold any more.

Now, these institutions need to come up and reassure the public that they have a game plan to deal with the issue. The people’s confidence in condoms has been undermined.

And, considering that condoms play a critical role in the fight against AIDS, people need to trust the products on the market or else the struggle to deal with the pandemic will be compromised.

Large quantities of condoms are imported into Africa as part of Aids prevention campaigns, however, this does not justify having substandard products allowed in.

RBS needs to step up.
Faulty condoms can be deadly, and since it is within RBS mandate that all products are tested before they are distributed in the country, we need assurances that the other brands of condoms available have been tested and are safe.

The "hot” brand is just one of the many on the market.
Lives are endangered by letting into the country condoms that cannot stand the quality test.

More needs to be done in regard to monitoring products entering the country.

Let this be a call for better quality control.

Ends