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The Catholic Church is opposed to an initiative by the health authorities in Samoa to distribute free condoms on the campus of the National University of Samoa (NUS).
In response to recently reported high rate of STDs in Samoa, the NUS School of Nursing, Samoa Family Health Association and Samoa Red Cross have joined forces in an attempt to ensure safer sex among young people. The project will see free condom dispensers put in to bathrooms across the NUS campus.
Those promoting the initiative say access to free condoms has been proven internationally to help reduce the risk of STI transmission and unplanned pregnancy, specifically among youth.
Catholic Church spokesman Father Ioane Ono has told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat the Church intends to launch a formal objection to the plan.
He says contraception encourages promiscuity and is immoral.
“There’s no guarantee that these condoms protect our children from passing on diseases,” he said.
“And on the other side of the coin, it is promoting promiscuity and promoting fornication.”
According to local reports, 35% of the population in Samoa has tested positive for sexually transmitted diseases.
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