Issued by: GCIS
8 July 2000
Condm procurement and distribution is one of the key strategies for HIV prevention. Most critically, the quality of condoms distributed to the public needs to be of the highest standard. It is for this reason that the Department of Health does batch testing of all condoms for public distribution. These tests are performed by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.
The process of testing starts at eh very beginning at the level of the awarding of tenders. Potential tenderers have to submit sample condoms for testing by the SABS to ensure that tenders are awarded based on both quality and price.
Subsequent to tenders being awarded, each consignment of condoms first have to be subjected to batch testing before a consignment can be released to the various provincial and national depots for distribution. If a batch fails the quality tests, the entire consignment is failed. Due to the time needed for this process, orders are placed with suppliers two months prior to the required delivery date.
Over the last two months a number of these condom batches have failed the SABS quality tests, and this has created a backlog in the distribution of free male condoms by the government. The Department has ordered sufficient quantities for all provinces, but these will not be released until they have passed the stringent tests.
The Department wants to reassure the public that we are of the opinion that the use of condoms provided by the government is one of the most important ways of preventing HIV infection, and are therefore committed that these condoms be of the highest possible quality.
Dr Nono Simelela
Chief Director: HIV/AIDS and STDs
AIDS Helpline: 0800 012 322