In Kenya, a three-pack of condoms costs an average of one euro, a high price for many people. For decades, therefore, the government has distributed free condoms, which are available in hospitals and other public places. They are donated to the East African country by international donors, who have to pay import duties on them. Over the past two years, donors have therefore decided to import fewer condoms, resulting in shortages. The consequences of this can be dire.
According to health organizations, the demand for condoms is estimated at 262 million units a year, while only 150 million were imported this year. The shortage of 112 million condoms translates into a budget deficit of around 300,000 euros. Meanwhile, the number of HIV infections among teenagers has risen sharply, and more teenage pregnancies have also been reported in the past two years.
‘Condemned’
“Why does the government tax goods that are free?” asked Dr. Samuel Kinyanjui, director of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, aloud during a recent speech in Nairobi ahead of World AIDS Day on 1 December. “Our government cannot fund our healthcare system on its own, so this will cause chaos. If the donors withdraw, we are doomed.’ Donors, including the large US state organization USAID, have not yet said why they are shipping fewer condoms to Kenya.
In recent decades, the fight against HIV has been successful, with fewer new infections occurring each year. But there has been stagnation in the last two years, partly because the corona pandemic has disrupted programs for HIV prevention, care and treatment. This would further increase the impact of the condom shortage.
“We were doing so well, as a country, but also globally,” says Dr. Isaac Chome, who is affiliated with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation as a regional medical manager. He too is worried. ‘If there’s no change soon, we’ll see it in the HIV and AIDS figures and the number of unwanted babies being born. In the worst case, the progress made in recent years in reducing HIV, AIDS and other STDs could be undone.’
Warning signs
The Kenyan government has not yet responded to the warning signs. Dr Kinyanjui says the Ministry of Health should buy condoms if needed. This should be seen as an investment, as treating HIV-infected people is much more expensive for the state. If there are enough condoms, Kinyanjui says, it could prevent 800,000 Kenyans from contracting HIV over the next ten years.
“It’s still too early to tell that there’s more HIV or AIDS because of the shortage of condoms,” says Dr. Chome, who works mainly in the coastal region of Kenya. Especially now that the holidays are around the corner, he thinks it’s important that Kenyans go to the store themselves to buy condoms: they are usually well stocked. Chome: ‘Now we will have to convince Kenyans to spend a few cents on condoms.’
