April 26, 2024

US exporting contraception to Afghanistan

Part of the US plan for rebuilding Afghanistan is the introduction of contraceptive products developed and marketed specifically for Afghans. With the slogan “Be a NumberOne/OK family, live a comfortable life”, Population Services International and the US Agency for International Development hope to promote reproductive health for women. PSI says that its marketing has been “culturally adapted” to Afghanistan — a challenging task in a fiercely Muslim country where where discussion, let alone advertising, of sexual topics is still taboo. This month it has launched a public awareness campaign with radio advertisement, sponsorships and billboards. PSI is also distributing 1.6 million condoms at a subsidised price in Afghanistan’s major cities.