Condoms have a long history, no pun intended. An Egyptian couple is often credited with producing the world’s first known condom — made from a linen pouch — roughly 3,000 years ago. However, cave paintings in France depict a male using some sort of condom. The paintings have been dated to 12,000-15,000 years ago.

Despite the time- frame difference, it is apparent that condoms have served a specific purpose for thousands of years — a purpose that the conservative government of the United States has seemingly chosen to ignore. In the past, the United States donated 800 million condoms worldwide. These went to countries to slow population growth and the rapid spread of AIDS. That number has drastically been reduced to 300 million.

In Botswana, where the AIDS rate is the highest, 1.6 million people are HIV-positive, according to the PanAfrican News Agency. Roughly 40 percent of the population is infected. Despite these harrowing facts, international donors provide each man in the country less than one condom per year.

The statistics in the United States are not much better. The American Social Health Association reports that one in five people in the United States has a sexually transmitted disease. The facts can be even more threatening for college students. Two-thirds of all STDs occur in citizens under age 25, an age demographic that describes most university scholars.

Condoms are essential in lowering these numbers. Research shows that condoms are 86 percent effective, even with imperfect use, says Planned Parenthood. That number rises to 97 percent with perfect use.

The Centers for Disease Control also found condoms to be highly effective as a barrier against HIV infection in studies performed in 1998.

HIV isn’t all condoms protect against. These infections often spread by semen, genital discharge or infectious secretion; condoms serve as a barrier for these to spread to the other partner.

It seems the Bush administration ignores these facts. There are other examples of this, far beyond the condom distribution drop. Last fall President Bush denied congressional funding to the United Nations Population Fund, which attempts to reduce STDs and unwanted pregnancy in Third World countries.

On top of that, the Web site for the CDC removed an existing fact sheet and replaced it with one that not only suggests, but emphasizes, condoms might not work.

There is no reason to ignore the fact that condoms do not always avert pregnancy and STDs. Still, a barrier that rarely fails is certainly better than nothing. Amy Coen, president of Population Action International — a group who supports condom use — said it best last September when she told US Newswire that “every three cent condom could save a life.”

Editorial Board:

Cavan Reagan, Amber Billings, Ayrel Clark, Charlie Weaver.