Most people associate February 14th with Valentine’s Day, but it is also less commonly known as National Condom Day. As such, today is the perfect occasion to celebrate both love and the invention that has protected people from disease and unwanted pregnancy for more than 200 years!

Condoms—in one form or another—have been used for centuries, but have grown in importance since the emergence of the AIDS pandemic. With global HIV rates stabilizing only in recent years, condoms continue to play a crucial role in sexual health programs all around the world, and on those programs focusing on the prevention of HIV/AIDS in particular. Of course, condoms also protect against other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly bacterial STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea, which can cause infertility in both women and men.

MCHIP supports condoms as an integral part of the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision program package.  But condoms matter not only in the fight against HIV/AIDS. They are extremely important as a family planning method, both the female (FC1 and FC2) and male condoms. And as a reversible method, condoms have an advantage over other forms of birth control, and can be used by breastfeeding women, are accessible, and do not require the assistance of a health care provider. Condoms are also the only dual purpose method that provide protection against both pregnancy and STIs, including HIV/AIDS.

This February 14th, MCHIP joins in celebration of this simple invention that continues to save lives around the world!


Barbora Nemcova
MCHIP Communications Consultant