Weird recycling tale from eastern Congo: Condoms used as shoe polish and make-up remover in Goma (UhakiNews)

Magguy Kakule, a reporter who writes for the all-female Kivus-based

and IWPR-funded Congolese e-zine UhakiNews, posted a funny story on

March 20 that was only brought to my attention this afternoon.





The story is titled "Goma: Condom comme cirage moins cher" (Goma:

Condom as cheap shoe polish).





Besides the use of condoms by men as shoe polish, Kakule also reports

that condoms' lubricant is also used as make-up remover by young

women.





Well, as it turns out, those condoms are handed out for free by

AIDS-prevention NGOs. Maybe they should now think about adding shoe

polish and cleansing lotions in their AIDS-prevention kits!





Interviewed by Magguy Kakule for the story, Dr. Augustin Mbula, the

North Kivu Provincial Coordinator of the National Multi-sectorial Aids

Prevention Program (acronymed PNMLS in French), didn't find the

practice funny at all.





Dr. Mbula strongly "condems this pratice and deems it a misuse," writes Kakule.





C'mon, doctor, relax! Where's your sense of humor? And, by the way,

doctor, what are you gonna do about about it, sue those weirdoes?