A Senior Prevention Programme Manager with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Adeleye Taofeek, has advised couples against using palm oil, vegetable oil and other oil-based substances as sexual lubricants, particularly when using condoms.
Adeleye gave the warning in Lagos on Thursday during a national media training on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), organised by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
He recommended water-based lubricants for people who use condoms, while also stressing the importance of selecting condoms that fit properly.
According to him, taking appropriate precautions before sexual activity is essential to reducing the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Adeleye said, “Two or three condoms—you will know the one that fits you. When you try them and don’t know which one fits your size, you ask, ‘Can it be done?’ I can close my eyes and put a condom on for you, which means it can be done for you.”
He further urged men to pay attention to their surroundings and exercise caution before engaging in sexual activity.
“But I always advise men that when you are going to engage in sexual activity, you should also look around. When you are coming in here, you look at the room before you enter. You don’t just go into a place without knowing what is there,” he said.
Speaking specifically about lubricants, the AHF official warned that substances including palm oil and vegetable oil should not be used with condoms.
“You can’t use palm oil, honey oil, balsamic, or vegetable oil. You can use water-based lubricants, which are advisable,” Adeleye said.
He also addressed the use of saliva where commercial lubricants are unavailable, advising individuals against using saliva from another person.
“And if you want to use saliva, it is advised that, in the absence of lubricant, the woman should use her own saliva, knowing fully well that the saliva is coming from her and going back into her, rather than using saliva from a foreign source,” he said.
The training formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen HIV prevention in Nigeria through interventions such as PrEP, condom use, HIV testing and treatment.
PrEP is a preventive intervention involving the use of antiretroviral medicines by HIV-negative individuals who may be at risk of exposure to the virus. When taken correctly, it can substantially lower the risk of HIV infection, although it does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections.
Health authorities and partners therefore continue to promote condoms alongside other HIV prevention measures as part of a comprehensive prevention strategy.
Nigeria remains among the countries with a significant HIV burden, making increased access to prevention, testing and treatment services crucial, particularly for populations considered to be at increased risk of infection.
Through NACA and its development partners, the Federal Government has continued to promote combined HIV prevention strategies while working to expand access to preventive and treatment services.
The media training was designed to equip journalists with a better understanding of PrEP and other HIV prevention measures, with the organisers stressing the importance of accurate reporting in combating misinformation and reducing HIV-related stigma.
(PUNCH)
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