Buying condoms in Nigeria was the most difficult thing when I started having s3x after my 20th.
I’d walk into a pharmacy and say something stupid like;
“Hello, my uncle sent me to buy condom.”
The salesgirl will look at me while yimmuing with self-righteousness. She must have thought;
“Look at this one, must you mention ya innocent uncle?”
When I got a little older and those teenage blushes left, I realized that everyone has s3x just like we all shit, even queen Elizabeth has s3x; the pope had s3x, I don’t know about today but his little altar angels must be all grown up now. Everyone has s3x so there is nothing to be ashamed of.
The reason why we have one of the highest rates of HIV infection is because we are too hypocritical and that prevents teenagers talking about s3x or receiving s3x education. People would rather have unprotected s3x than risk being stared down in a brightly lit pharmacy.
I should stand campaigning for condom vending machines in poorly lit part of the pharmacy so people can buy their condoms in an anonymized manner.
We shame people into unhealthy s3xual practices and it’s not helping in the discussion on s3x and STIs.
Don’t be embarrassed you are buying a condom; every proud condom buyer should be given a standing ovation as a matter of policy and condoms ought to be a human right in Africa.
Darren Idongesit Aquaisua