THE ‘Double “A” Protection Condoms’ sexual hygiene combination box will go a far way in healing and strengthening HIV combination prevention in Guyana, Managing Director of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Joel Simpson, has opined. He made this comment at the recent launch of the product, which was held at the Sleep Inn Hotel and Casino in Church Street, Georgetown. According to Simpson, the launch of the combination box which comprises three lubricated latex condoms, one wipe, one lubricant and one disposable pack, serves as a reminder for all Guyanese that HIV is not over. “Over the last year and some months, we have been grappling with a pandemic that has been a major scourge across the world. But that has only complicated, and made even more challenging, the HIV response because people don’t stop having sex during a pandemic,” he highlighted. “So we are faced with double the challenges, even as the world tries to overcome COVID-19,” Simpson added.

It is for this reason that he contends that the new product will majorly assist in curbing the spread of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
“I think what’s particularly special about this product is the assembly and packaging of multiple commodities in one box, called the combination sex pack…This is the first time that I’m seeing condoms, lubricant, a wipe, and a disposable pack in one commodity—in one product that’s available in the market. And I think that is quite special, and the convenience of having it all in one pack is going to go a long way in HIV protection, and also in the area of family planning,” he stated.
He added that not only the product, but the accompanying health campaign, is quite fitting when it comes to HIV combination protection, since it touches on all three tiers of HIV combination prevention. At the biomedical level, he stated, Guyana is in need of more commodities, like condoms, lubricants and similar products, not only to prevent HIV, but other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

“Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PREP) is probably the best tool that you have available in the 21st century for HIV prevention. And while PREP might be over 90-something per cent effective at preventing HIV, we can’t use PREP alone to prevent STIs. We still need condoms in the prevention of all sexually transmitted infections,” Simpson reinforced.
“At the behavioural level, we know that correct and consistent condom use is a key part of HIV prevention: knowing how to use a condom correctly, using it every time you have sex, is a huge part of a successful strategy; not only in the prevention of HIV, but other STIs, and also in family planning,” he went on to say.
At the structural level, however, lies one of the largest barriers to HIV prevention: stigma as it relates to sex, sexual practices and sexual health.
“So the fact that we have all of these commodities in one convenient package really helps to inhibit that stigma,” Simpson said.

A well-known fact is that within the key population, men in particular are hesitant when going to pharmacies and similar institutions to purchase lubricants, since there is an assumption, even with the host of medical information available, that lubricants are used only when performing anal sex.
While lubricants are used for performing anal sex, it also helps reduce friction that may cause condoms to break, or cause skin in and around the vagina to become irritated and torn, thereby exposing the area to bacteria that can cause severe infections, not limited to STIs.
“So while the assumption is far from reality, or far from the truth, what this product helps to evade, is some of that stigma because you’re going to purchase one combo pack and not necessarily condoms and lubricants, and all of these things separately,” the LGBTQ+ activist said before adding: “So I think this will go a far way in healing and strengthening combination prevention in Guyana.”

Simpson took the opportunity to commend Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, and the National AIDS Programme Secretariat, under the leadership of the new programme manager, Dr Tariq Jagnarine, for their notable contributions since the new government took office.
He also encouraged a closer collaboration and partnership between A+A Manufacturing and the Ministry of Health, whereby the government might be able to procure supplies from the company, and make them “comfortably available” at health centres across the country.
At present, the sexual hygiene combination box is available at the Smart Aid Pharmacy, and will become available at various other locations across the country over the next few months.