Contact Investigator for St. Elizabeth Urges Residents to Practise Safe Sex
November 23, 2004The Full Story
Contact Investigator at the St. Elizabeth Health Department, James Taylor is encouraging all sexually active persons to use a condom to prevent sexually transmitted infections including HIV.
“With the prevalence of the HIV virus you have to do as much as possible to safeguard your health as oftentimes when someone has the virus, you cannot tell by looking,” he stated.
Mr. Taylor, who was speaking at a recent community outreach meeting organized by the Jamaica Information Service at Tryall in the parish, outlined the steps to be followed when using a condom.
“The first thing one should do is examine the packet containing the condom very carefully, look for manufacture and expiry dates, feel it to see if there is any leakage, do not store or keep the condom in your wallets or billfold or in any place that it will be affected by direct sunlight,” he said.
The Contact Investigator pointed out that in order to prevent the condom from bursting, the tip should be held and squeezed so as to remove any excess air prior to it being placed on the male sex organ. “While holding the tip, slowly unroll until it reaches the base. Remember to put on the condom before intercourse and do not use grease, oils or petroleum jelly as lubricants, as these can cause the condom to break. Instead, use water-based products such as KY jelly,” he advised.
Mr. Taylor stated that at the end of the sex act, the male partner should hold the condom at the base and withdraw while still erect.
“Remove the condom, be careful not to spill anything that is inside and dispose it safely in the garbage or any other secure place. Do not by any means try to use it a second time. Use a new condom every time with each partner and never unroll a condom before using it,” he said.