Issued by: Department of Health
In response to the article in the media on Sunday 16th May 1999, the Department would like to provide the following information.
The article creates the impression that the condoms currently in distribution are substandard and of poor quality. The problems highlighted in the article refer to a situation that existed in 1998.
Following complaints of defective condoms by the public in 1998, the Department recalled all Kenzo condoms in July 1998. No Kenzo condoms were supplied to the provinces subsequent to this recall. Recall letters were sent to all provincial co-ordinators who were responsible for ensuring that all stores were informed of the recall.
All Kenzo condoms that could be traced were sent back to the manufacturers. It is regrettable that some of these condoms were recently found in two stores in the Free State and Gauteng. This was probably due to a failure of the recall notification to reach all levels of the health system or some of the stock being missed during the clearing operation following the recall.
In addition to the above exercise, the Department reviewed tender specifications for condoms bringing them in line with World Health Organisation standards. Since the beginning of this financial year, all condoms are batch tested by the SABS prior to distribution to the provinces. No condoms are distributed to the provinces before testing is completed.
The Department is committed to supplying good quality condoms to the society. Mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that defective condoms are not distributed. A communique has been sent out to all the provinces to actively search for all Kenzo condoms that may still be lying in some stores and to alert the National Department if any are found.
The Department requests anybody that becomes aware of problems with State supplied condoms to please contact the Directorate HIV/AIDS/STDS on this number (012) 312-0121.