Today, the world is marking International Condom Day which is normally celebrated on February 13 every year, one day before Valentine’s Day.

The day is a fun, wry way of reminding people to practice sexual safety, and was set up as a way to remind people that condoms are one of the best ways to protect themselves not only from unwanted pregnancies but also Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). 

Today, there are various variations of the condom that can be used by everyone regardless of their gender. Proper usage reduces the risk of diseases like gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV/AIDS, among other diseases

In Kenya, the day is marked in various ways as pockets of community health workers and Government go out on sensitization programs and also perform surveys as well as distributing free condoms especially in major towns and low-income areas.

According to a recent report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics female condoms are the most unpopular contraceptive in Kenya.

KNBS director Macdonald Obudho said that 63 per cent of currently married Kenyan women are using a contraceptive, and 57 per cent using a modern method.

“Among currently married women, the most commonly used methods are injectables (20 per cent), implants (19 per cent), and contraceptive pills (eight per cent),” he said.

Further away, ahead of Valentine's day (on February 14), the government of Thailand said that it would distribute 95 million condoms free of cost to curb sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and teen pregnancy. 

In a report by news agency Bloomberg on Tuesday (January 31), government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said that starting February 1, universal healthcare cardholders were eligible to receive 10 condoms a week for one year. The condoms would be available in four different sizes and can be accessed at pharmacies and primary care units of hospitals across Thailand.

And in New Zealand, Supermarket giant Foodstuffs says the week before Valentine’s Day brings an annual rush to buy condoms.

New Zealanders are regular condom buyers throughout the year, said Chris Day, head of customer insights and intelligence, but sales of condoms spiked in early February as “optimism peaks”.

Day said people bought 30% more condoms in Valentine’s week compared to the average weekly sales throughout the rest of the year.