Tag: CONDOMS

#Breaking: Donors About To Pull The Plug On Condom Funding In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa One of the major funders for HIV and AIDS programs in Zimbabwe, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has notified the Zimbabwean government that it will terminate funding for condom programming within the next 30 months, HealthTimes has learnt. Popularly known as Madhimbare mainly because of their blue and white packaging, public sector condoms serve the biggest number of condom users in Zimbabwe especially those at high risk of HIV infection mainly Female Sex Workers (FSW), Artisanal Miners, Truck Drivers among other HIV key…

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175 000 condoms distributed in Highfield, Southerton, Glen Norah and Ishewekunze suburbs

Kuda Pembere

Over 175 000 condoms were distributed in the South Western district covering Southerton, Highfield, Glen Norah and Ushewekunze suburbs in the last quarter of 2022, a significant stride in condom programming which the National AIDS Council (NAC) South western district office says was a peak reach. By Kuda Pembere This NAC South Western District deputy district coordinator Mr Michael Musaka told HealthTimes on the sidelines of the International Condom Day celebrations yesterday that they were pleased with the condom distribution for the quarter. “So we have been making strides. It…

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Seke District Uses 200 000 Condoms Every Three Months

Kuda Pembere

Seke district has a quarterly uptake 200 000 male condoms while female condoms have a range of 5 000 to 10 000. By Kudakwashe Pembere During a Mashonaland East media tour organised by the National AIDS Council (NAC), the organisation’s District AIDS Coordinator (DAC) for Seke district Ms Florence Nyandoro told HealthTimes in an interview last week that, “Our quarterly average uptake for male condoms is 200 000 and the female condoms are in the range of 5 000 and 10 000.” Explaining the uptake difference, she said it was…

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Condoms “Too Small” For Some Zimbabwean Men says MP

Michael Gwarisa

MUFAKOSE Legislator, Honorable Susan Matsunga has asked government, the National AIDS Council (NAC) and all partners involved in the procurement and distribution of condoms to consider the size of sexual organs for some Zimbabwean men whenever they place orders from manufactures overseas. By Michael Gwarisa She made these remarks during a question and answer session at a High Level Advocacy Meeting to Discuss Bottlenecks Affecting the Condom Market in Zimbabwe that was held in Harare weeks ago. I am an MP in my constituency and I get feedback from the…

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Scrap Import Duty and VAT on Condoms…Partners Plead With Gvt, As Zimbabwe Records 15 Million Condom deficit

Michael Gwarisa

RELIANCE on donor funding for the National Condom program, coupled with a restrictive tax regime has resulted in Zimbabwe failing to meet its condom obligation of 173 million condoms per year, a development that could reverse progress made so far in the HIV response, HealthTimes has learnt. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s national condom program comprise of public sector condoms, private sector condoms and Social Marketing condoms. However, increased donor fatigue has seen major donors such as the USAID and PEPFAR cutting their funding towards the procurement of public sector and…

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Hundreds Thousands Of Condoms Go Missing In Kenyan Warehouse

Healthtimes

Hundreds of thousands of condoms, mosquito nets and tuberculosis drugs worth $100,000 (£77,000) are alleged to have disappeared from a warehouse operated by the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa). BBC They are believed to have been stolen and resold on the black market and to private chemists, according to the UN’s Global Fund to fight HIV, TB and malaria. It also accuses the agency of drastically inflating the price of the medicine, with some drugs being sold for one hundred times the correct cost. The government agency has not yet…

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Condom Shortages In Sanyati As Sex Workers Loot Free Dembare Condoms

Healthtimes

SANYATI district has been experiencing recurrent shortages of the famous Blue Panther or Dembare condoms at the back of massive looting of the product by sex workers who later sale the condoms at exorbitant rates to their colleagues. HealthTimes Reporter In an interview in Sanyati recently, National Aids Council (NAC) District Aids Coordinator (DAC) for Sanyati, Virginia Tausa said sex work was most prevalent in the district due rampart artisanal mining activities and some senior sex workers have been collecting condoms in bulk, creating an artificial shortage of the condoms.…

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Sex Workers Panic Over New Condom Prices

Michael Gwarisa

SEX workers from most parts of the country have raised a red flag over the new prices of condoms which has gone beyond the reach of many, a situation which could lead to a spike in new HIV infections and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). By Michael Gwarisa A pack of Durex Condoms now range between ZW$107 and ZW$119 which is twice the price of bread. To worsen the situation, accessing free condoms or Dembare Condoms has also become a challenge. Sex workers who spoke to HealthTimes pleaded with government to…

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COVID-19 Affects Condom Distribution…Sex Workers Fear For Lives

Michael Gwarisa

THE Women Against All Forms Of Discrimination (WAAD), an organisation representing rights of sex workers and women has warned of a possible spike in new HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections during the lockdown period due shortages of condoms and other critical sexual reproductive health (SRH) services. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking to HealthTimes, WAAD Coordinator, Ms Hazel Zemura said the COVID-19 induced lockdown had affected distribution of essential SRH services especially amongst sex workers who have since moved their trade from clubs and bars to the streets and highways where truck…

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Zim Experts Warn Of Rise In Unintended Pregnancies After Lockdown…Should Young People Adopt Long-term Contraceptives?

Michael Gwarisa

FAILURE by young women and girls to access modern contraceptives and reproductive health services during the lockdown could spell doom and possibly reverse the gains that have been attained in terms of reducing Early Unintended Pregnancies (EUPs). By Michael Gwarisa According to the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) 2015, sexually active unmarried women are more likely to have the highest risk of unintended pregnancy. This is because more than 70% of them are on short-acting contraceptives, condoms, and orals. Under a lockdown scenario as ours, supply can easily be disrupted…

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