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By Dr. Yusuf Garow
As a concerned citizen, I could not sit idle and dismiss the ludicrous decision made by the highest health authority of this infant nation, with regard to the four hundred years old method used for prevention of the most common sexually transmitted diseases known to human beings.
Reading that article, and I did it more than once, I could not believe my eyes. I was hoping, and still do, that the minister was misquoted. The article was printed in Haatuf, issue# 403, Sept 24, 2003 (Wasiirada Caafimaadka Iyo Qorshaynta Oo Ka Hadlay Hayado Lagu Qabtay Rabadhada Galmada Loo Isticmaalo). May be I am alone here, but it’s really beyond my imagination that our minister of health indicated that he heard of male condoms, and in fact said that now they added female condoms (“waxaynu awel maqli jiray rabadhka ragga, maantase waxa ku soo biiray rabadh dumarka ah”).
I guess what I am trying to say is, if you did not see the title of the person who made the statement, you would’ve never guessed in a million years, that the statement was a quote from the minister of health.
The minister went on and clarified that the ministry of health already declared that, materials like this (condoms), are not allowed to be imported into this country, and notified non-governmental aid agencies that Condoms are officially Banned from this country, (Wasiirka caafimaadku waxa uu sheegay inay wasaarad ahaan hore go’aan uga gaadheen inaan alaabta caynkaas ah la ogolayn in dalka la keeno”; “Hayadaha samafalka ee caawimada dunidu ina siiso soo qaata waxaanu u sheegaynaa oo aanu ku adkaynaynaa inay mam-nuuc yihiin rabadhaasi oo aan dalka la keeni karin, laga bilaabo maantana rabadh dalka waa laga mam-nuucay,).
Enough already. I am sure we are on the same page now, and I have two very simple questions to satisfy my curiosity:
Did the minister actually take into account the magnitude of the problem of sexually transmitted diseases when he made the decision?
Did the minister
have an alternative method to prevent these diseases, in case, just in case,
they occur in the future, as they’ve occurred since man developed this
behavior called SEX?
If the minister had offered some explanation for these basic questions, it
was not printed in the article.
Fortunately, I am one of those people who believe in the concept of “MAN HAS
GOT TO KNOW HIS LIMITATIONS”. That is why I could not question the
minister's decision. After all, he was chosen to be responsible for the
health of this nation. Right? However I am within my rights to voice my
concern about the pending negative impact, that will affect thousands, if
not millions of this nation's population, you and I included. I have seen it
happen, not once, but several times. Bear with me; I will give you practical
examples.
To the minister’s credit, he mentioned that as a Muslim nation, we do not
condone using condoms as a contraceptive method, simply because we do not
believe in interfering with God's will. To put things into perspective, and
to clarify my position with regard to condom use, I do not advocate using
them, and they should not be used as long as everyone is following our
beloved religion's guidelines, which explicitly explains the do’s and
don’ts, with respect to human sexual behavior, and basically says do not
commit ‘sin’.
Let us be realistic though. Does everybody follow the religious rules and
regulations? Let someone else answer this. I know better. How about if just
a few people in a community do not follow the religious rules, and somehow
become infected with some disease related to human sexual behavior. Should
we worry about them, treat them, cast them out, or just ignore them?
I think the answer depends on who you ask. But pay attention. This is the
center of our discussion. For the sake of the argument, let us
hypothetically say that these few infected members in the community are a
concern to everyone else; and yes, you’ve guessed right, we are afraid
they’re somehow going to give what they have to some members in the
community, because members of the community are not independent from one
another, but dependent units.
Let me just remind the minister that South Africa is one of the nations in
Africa that has good relations with Somaliland. The president of that
country denied the existence of HIV/AIDS for more than 4 years. Just ask the
minister of health of South Africa what happened during that period. May be
the answers she provides, will help you not to repeat the mistakes that many
African officials committed on the people who trusted them with their lives.
Finally, I hope our people will do the right thing, and prevent these
diseases with any measures they know will work. And those of you, who engage
in sex outside marriage, please do not listen to the minister of health, and
use condoms, in order to reduce your chances of acquiring STD’s, HIV/AIDS
included.
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