In
spite of the impressive economic and democratic gains Tanzania has made over
the last 5 decades since independence, there still exist gaping holes in the
issue of morality and sexuality. Sex education is yet to become main stream and
debates concerning safe sex are discussed in hushed tones. In fact, its correct
to say that condom use and safe sex talks are looked at upon as a taboo by the
largely conservative natives whose views on sex education is more or less
informed by a misrepresentation of facts. The scourge of HIV aids is real as
the air we breathe and as such it is time that major emphasis is placed on safe
sex and taking responsibility.
Though
there have been massive campaigns on HIV aids awareness and the need to
practice safe sex, little progress has been made towards making condoms seem
cool and fashionable. The campaign has suffered a massive PR problem as much
emphasis is placed on the dangers that come with non-use of condom rather than
the underlying benefits that come with it. Practicing safe sex is not only a
responsibility but also an obligation that each and every Tanzanian should
embrace wholeheartedly. The truth of the matter is we all are victims of the
HIV aids. We ether are infected or affected by the scourge and it’s about time
we took the bull by the horns and address the issue head on.
Of
course, stressing on abstinence seems to have hit a snag especially with
hormone raging teenagers who are quick to throw caution to the wind and engage
in unprotected sex at whim. With this in mind, there is a need for a massive
campaign to encourage the youth and Tanzanian populace at large to embrace the
use of condoms. Considering that condoms have been around for a long time, one
might be wondering what new can condoms do to whip the Tanzanian citizenry into
engaging in safe sex. The long held perception and belief that condoms hinder
sexual satisfaction is nothing more than a fallacy that has been effectively
propagated by ignorant men and women in the society.
Condom
indeed can be made cool and effectively used towards fighting sexually
transmitted diseases and ultimately the scourge of HIV aids. With this in mind,
it has become instrumental for all stakeholders in Tanzania and beyond to ask
themselves the one million dollar question; how can we make condom cool for
men? What is it that can be done to make condoms cool and spark an interest in
them for the male populace in Tanzania? Of course, making condoms cool for men
requires a commitment, a different kind of thinking outside the box and a need
to address the concerns of Tanzanian men as relates to condom use.
·
Using
celebrities to advertise condoms
It’s
common knowledge that majority of the youth look up to celebrities for
inspiration. The youth love to be trendy, to spot the latest fashion attires
and to imitate what celebrities do. Of course, no one wants to be outdated and
there is no better way to make condoms cool than using popular celebrities in
the local scene to advertise condoms. Celebrities such as Diamond Platinum or
Joti who command a massive following among the youth would do a great job
towards changing the perception on condoms. These celebrities can be
effectively used to pass across the message that condom use and safe sex is the
way to go. Given the fact that many youths idolize their celebrities and more
often than not imitate what they do to the letter, condom advertising by
various popular celebrities would surely go a long way towards making condom
use by Tanzanian men cool.
·
Using
the right message during condom advertisements
When
setting the mood for sex, emphasis needs to be on pleasure rather than the morbid
fear for diseases or pregnancies. Condom advertisement needs to adopt pleasure
as a focal point rather than approaching condom advertisement as a reactive
measure. Condom advertising should be proactive and be effective in encouraging
most Tanzanian men to see condom as cool and inadvertently buy condoms. A
majority of the Tanzanian men look at sex as a pleasurable activity and as such
the emphasis should be on pleasure rather than on the need to prevent diseases
or unwanted pregnancies.
With
this in mind, condom advertising should put greater emphasis on sensuality and
the benefits that come with condom use. For instance, the advertisement should
focus more on how condoms can be effective in making a man last longer and by
so doing ensuring that his partner is satisfied. Emphasis should be on the
features of the condom that serve to make it cool and enjoyable rather than simply
preventing pregnancies and other venereal diseases.
·
Design
condoms of various flavors with enticing packaging
Condom
fatigue is a real issue that afflicts most Tanzanian men. Having used the same
kind of condoms over the past 4 decades, there is need to address the issue of
condom fatigue by designing condoms of different flavors that appeal to
Tanzanian men from different walks of life. Designing condoms of different flavors
would surely go a long way towards making the act of sex enjoyable. It also
provides a window through which men can try condoms of different flavors hence
making the act of love making more pleasurable.
Condoms
of different flavors and even colors will surely pique the curiosity of men who
would want to try them out and find out what it is that they promise. Of
course, the issue of appearance cannot be overlooked. An adage goes that men
are visual creatures. As such, the packaging needs to be enticing in such a way
that it would make a man want to buy it. The packaging, the wording and even
the image on the condoms pack should appeal to a man’s innermost and wildest
sexual fantasies. Proper efforts should be put towards creative designing and
packaging and this will surely make condoms cool.
·
Manufacture
of condoms with different sizes
It’s
an open secret that many men shy away from using condoms because they rarely
find the right size. This in many cases is frustrating especially when the
condom is too tight/small or too big. Clearly indicating the size of the
condoms on their packs will go a long way towards making them cool and spur
them to buy condoms. As you already know, sex needs to be a pleasurable
activity and as such the wrong condom size is a step towards the wrong
direction. This inconvenience in terms of size makes many Tanzanian men view
condoms in a negative way as something that reduces sexual pleasure. Designing
condoms of different sizes and going a step further to indicate size would
surely serve to make condoms cool for men. They will buy condoms based on their
sizes and ultimately enjoy sex without any frustrations. The bottom line is;
condom size does matter!
·
Condom
test campaign
It’s
essential to create a condom testing campaign that is fun and edgy for the
condom users. The campaign should be focused on encouraging partners to try and
test different kinds of condom and settle on one that will heighten their
sexual experience with their partners. Such a campaign should stress on the
need to use a condom that is comfortable, relaxing, and enjoyable and which
makes the sexual experience with the partner exciting. The campaign should
stress emphasis on the need for partners to test different kinds of condoms, flavors
or even colors in an attempt to find the right kind of condom that would make
the sexual experience pleasurable and a past time favorite activity.
·
Employing
cool condom slogan
A
condom slogan is indeed one of the most effective ways of making condoms cool.
The condom slogan should be something that men can identify with and which is catchy
and memorable. It goes without saying that most men cringe at the idea of
buying condoms over the counter because of the stigma associated with the word
“condom” in its literal sense. How about coming up with a slogan that will make
the purchase of condoms easier for the ordinary Tanzanian man? A good, catchy
and interesting slogan will make the buying of condom easier and even make
discussions on condoms interesting and not awkward. The use of cool slogans
such as “hakuna mechi bila jezi” or “usiseme condom sema jezi”
would surely make it easier for men to buy condoms and look at condoms as cool.
Conclusion
To
sum it up, the need for safe sex among the Tanzanian populace is something that
cannot be overlooked. Considering that insisting on abstinence is more or less
unsustainable, attention should shift on making condoms cool and much more
acceptable to men across the divide. Emphasis should be on changing perceptions
and creating a paradigm shift on what has largely been seen as a taboo subject
over the years. Condom use should be seen as something interesting and part and
parcel of a sexual act. This is the only sure way through which the scourge of
HIV aids can be contained and further infections halted. It also provides a
bright future where people are cognizant of the need for safe sex and living in
a healthy society!
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