22 Oct 2026

Acute shortage of condoms at public health facilities risks reversal of gains the country has made in combating the HIV/AIDS scourge, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies, Member of Parliament for Bobirwa, Mr Taolo Lucas has said.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting in Bobonong, Tuesday, Mr Lucas observed that there was acute shortage of condoms at public spaces where people were accustomed to collecting them.   

The reported shortage, the MP said, should be addressed expeditiously to avoid reversing the gains already made, arguing that although the matter may be ‘laughable to some,’ it presented a high risk of people contracting STIs and HIV while also experiencing unwanted pregnancies.

“It may sound funny to some of you that I’m concerned about shortage of condoms, but I’m genuinely afraid that we may reverse our gains regarding HIV/AIDS, other STIs as well as unwanted pregnancies,” he said. 

Consequently, the Bobirwa legislator implored Bobirwa District Council, under the stewardship of council secretary, Mr Milton Keitshokile, to devise ways of purchasing condoms to rescue the impending doom. 

The MP suggested utilising the council’s petty cash to purchase condoms while awaiting consignments from central medical stores. 

On other matters, Mr Lucas said that defilement cases in his constituency were at alarming levels.

Although he could not back his claims with statistics, the Bobirwa legislator said that information from council social workers, while touring schools and health facilities in his constituency, showed that some people preyed on minors for their sexual gratifications, with complete disregard to the law.

Shockingly, Mr Lucas said, was the finding that women have joined the defilement train, a crime which, hitherto was a known ill preserve for men. He disclosed that a woman reportedly captured a minor and kept him at her house for sexual exploitation. 

While it was common that males were the known paedophiles against a minor girl child, the MP said that it has been discovered that some of the men preyed on young boys, too. 

“I urge you parents to keep a hawk’s eye on your children… we learnt that some older woman had captured a minor boy child and kept him at her house for sexual exploitation,” said MP Lucas. ENDS