Kenya battles condom shortages, prices skyrocket

Kenya has been hit with condom shortages as the price of the commodity continues to rise in the East African country. The country has instituted policies aimed at reducing HIV infections as well as gonorrhoea, syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections.

Condoms have been distributed in Kenya for years for free with people able to access condoms at health facilities, sanitation facilities and condoms dispensers at vantage locations. However, high taxation of the product which is primarily imported into the country means the quantities available for free have dwindled.

One of the non-governmental organizations in the country that has spearheaded the campaign against HIV is the AIDS Health Foundation, AHF. The organization revealed that Kenya requires 400 million condoms annually but the government only distributes 150 million, 62.5 per cent less.

While calling for the government to increase its distribution quantities, AHF also is advocating “that the government adopt and support a whole-market approach to its condoms policies and suggest that, of the total needed, 200 million condoms [50%] go toward free and non-taxed distribution for lower-income people and 150 million [40%] be socially marketed at low cost and tax. The remaining 50 million condoms [10%] can be allocated for the premium market but with no government incentives attached.”

NSDCC response to Kenya condom shortages

However, in the wake of the reported shortage, Dr. Ruth Laibon, the CEO of the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) has shot down the panic. She said “There are enough condoms in the country. Probably the challenge is the reduction in the free-to-use condoms,”

According to Dr Laibon, “The reduction of free condoms has mostly been affected by the reduction of external resources that were there before at the early days of the epidemic that used to provide additional resources to what the government puts on the table to buy condoms”.

As a way to mitigate the long-term consequences, she suggested that manufacturers of condoms should be encouraged to establish bases in the country so that some of the condoms can be produced locally. She believes would make the product available at low prices since the free condoms are now limited.

“There are solutions including bringing some of those manufacturers in the country so that they can have a satellite programme of a manufacturing plant in Kenya so that condoms can be cheaper and available.

“Condom is an effective tool that must be used alongside other tools. The condom was the earliest method that was ever discovered, even in the HIV response it has saved so many lives. Even when there were no drugs, condoms were available,” Dr Laibon said as reported by the Daily Nation.

Speaking ahead of the seventh Maisha Scientific Conference in Mombasa, Dr Laibon they “will discuss how to create sustainable platforms and interventions, especially in the context of reduced external resources and also how we as a country will prepare ourselves so that when a new scientific development comes on board we will not be relying on external resources only”.

“Condom is a gadget for the male body. We have female condoms, which are also now on the market but it’s more expensive and less easy to use. But we have come a long way. It is a time to celebrate. But it’s a time not to sit comfortably. We have to be careful and on guard, as HIV/AIDS continues to be a threat even amidst the success we have had.”

Maisha Scientific Conference

Currently underway, the 7th Maisha Scientific Conference is a three-day stakeholder conference aimed at providing a platform for policymakers, scientists, communities, and partners to share knowledge and insights gained over almost four decades of addressing the HIV response.

Also, the conference seeks to promote discussions around the latest scientific advancements and explore how they can be utilized to address the challenges posed by other epidemics. The goal of the conference is to enhance collaboration and foster innovative solutions to improve public health outcomes.

HIV in Kenya and Africa

A 2021 report by the NSDCC said at least 1.6 million Kenyans are living with HIV and more than half (53%) don’t know their status. The report added that more than half (51%) of all new infections in 2015 occurred among young adults [15-24 years].

In Africa, about 25.7 million people were living with HIV in 2018 with 1.1 million infections in the same year. According to WHO, only about 75% of people living with HIV know their HIV status.