A Senior Manager for Prevention Programmes at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Taofeek Adeleye, has warned Nigerians against using palm oil, vegetable oil and other oil-based substances as lubricants during sexual activity.
Adeleye gave the warning on Thursday, August 20, while speaking at a national training for media personnel on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Lagos.
He cautioned against using substances such as palm oil, vegetable oil and other oil-based products as sexual lubricants, advising people to use water-based lubricants instead.
“You can’t use palm oil, honey oil, balsamic, or vegetable oil. You can use water-based lubricants, which are advisable,” Adeleye said.
He added that where a lubricant is unavailable, a woman could use her own saliva as an alternative.
“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.
Adeleye also urged sexually active people to use condoms that fit properly, noting that people should seek guidance if they are unsure about the appropriate size.
“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,” he said.
