The Ministry of health has dispelled claims of a shortage of condoms in Uganda. Last week, there were reports that the country is facing a shortage of condoms. The shortage was linked to the hiking prices of fuel and the raging war between Russia and Ukraine which affected the production and supply chains all over the world.
According to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), condoms are the only contraceptive offering dual protection against unintended pregnancy and STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections), including HIV. Currently, there are 1.5 million people living with HIV/Aids in Uganda. At least 1.3 million know their HIV status while 1.2 million are on treatment.
Ministry of Health statistics indicate that the use of condoms in Women aged 15-49 years is 38.3%, 62.4% for Men aged 15-49 years, Sex workers 69%, for People living with HIV couple 35%, Fisher folks 54% and security personnel 63%.
Boniface Epoku, the program officer in charge of condom programming at the Aids Control Program at the ministry of health said they have never had a shortage but challenge to deliver condoms to the end users in the community.
“We have an excess of condoms in the country. This year we imported close to 250 million condoms and we expect 34 million condoms in January 2023. Out of the imported condoms, we have distributed more than 125 million to the community,” he said.
“We have three categories of clients; those who can afford commercial condoms which go for up more than Shs 10,000, socially marketed condoms which cost between Shs 1000 to Shs 2000 or more and free-to-user condom which is supported by the donor partners. All condoms are of the same equality including the free-to-user condom. So we are calling parents to come and pick condoms and distribute them to the communities they operate in,” he said.
The free-to-user condom contributes 80%, commercial condoms five percent and socially marketed contribute 15% of the total condoms in the community.
Currently, there are several brands of condoms on the Ugandan market. The one-touch romantic condoms, Dktie Kiss condoms, Durex, Lifeguard condoms, Trust condoms and sundry. A survey conducted by this reporter at various pharmacies indicated that condoms cost between Shs 1500 to Shs 20000.
In a bid to increase the rapid distribution of condoms, the ministry has activated the last-mile delivery of condoms. The ministry works with Joint Medical Stores to deliver condoms to hot spot areas where there are high incidences of HIV transmission rate.
“We are also conducting deliveries through National Medical Stores (NMS). Those condoms are delivered straight to the public health facilities in the country. We are establishing a total market approach task team to bring all private sector players on board to regulate the prices of condoms in the country,” Epoku said.
A pharmacist this reporter interacted with at Ecopharm Ntinda said there is no shortage of condoms at their branches because they have plenty of condoms at their stores.
Another source at MARRIESTOPES the distributor of Lifeguard condoms said they have a lot of condoms and their distribution channel is still open to import condoms into the country.
