The biting condom shortage in the country has ran into a crisis situation after all government strategic dispensers have gone empty a scenario that risks rolling back the gains made in HIV/AIDS fight in the country.
Similarly, a spike in the Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) have worried medics in various parts of the country especially among school going children.
Data recorded from January to June of this year, in Kirinyaga Central sub-county, at least 12,000 out of 16,000 students have tested positive for sexually transmitted diseases.
Worse still, commercial sex workers have also resulted to washing condoms for recycling thus exposing them and their sexual partners to greater risk of contracting STIs.
While marking the World AIDS Day, an amalgamation of civil society groups in the health sector warned that if condom shortage in the country is not addressed, new HIV infections are likely to hit a crisis level.
Over the years, HIV and AIDS prevalence has decreased from a peak of 10.5 per cent to lows of 5 per cent in the recent years.
Total new HIV infections are estimated to have declined in the last seven years; from about 116,000 in 2009 to around 45,000. CSOs cautioned of a possibility of a new wave of infections citing a budgetary gap in the purchase of condoms. They noted that the Kenyan Government was procuring 150 million pieces against a forecasted demand of 262 million for the July 2022 to June 2023 financial year.
They noted that this was not the first time Kenya is in the grip of dire countrywide shortage of condoms amid rising cases of teenage pregnancy, HIV/Aids among the youth and resurgence of sexually transmitted illnesses. The CSOs noted that there has been a rapid increase in HIV infections among adolescents and young people and the disruption of the HIV prevention, care and treatment services by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Samuel Kinyanjui, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Kenya Country Director said there is a gap of about 112 million condoms, which translates to a budgetary deficit of about Sh38million at a unit cost of approximately Sh3.4 per condom.
“We are urging the government to come up with a mechanism of stemming the acute shortage of condoms that has now become routine. We are calling on the government to come up with modalities of bringing down the prevailing high taxes against those willing to step in and help the country restock.” Kinyanjui said.
He added that condoms must be viewed as an investment and not a cost.
“Statistically, with enough condoms, the country will be saved from treating more than 800,000 newly infected persons in the next ten years and up to 5.3 million unplanned pregnancies, 60 per cent of which are teenage, will be averted.” He added.
It is estimated the cost of treating one infected person every year is about Sh30,000 and this can be avoided.
Last year, Kenya was embroiled in a tax row with Global Fund after the Kenya Revenue Authority imposed tax on donated ARV drugs.
Currently, the aggregate tax regime slapped on condom procurements is Shilling for a shilling. It is the high time Kenya’s political leadership addresses the condoms shortage issue, ARVs, teen pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
“Why do we have to tax commodities donated free of charge? Going down this road will only wreak havoc in a country that is unable to fund our health system. We should decide whether we want condoms or taxes because once the donors withdraw, then we are doomed.” Kinyanjui added.
AIDS is the leading cause of death and morbidity among adolescents and young people in Kenya. It is estimated that 51 percent of all new HIV infections in Kenya are among adolescents and youth.
“Need I emphasize that the male latex condom remains the single, most efficient, available technology to reduce HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.” Ferdinand Omanyala, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation Kenya Youth Ambassador said.
Reports indicate that the world is worryingly off-track in reducing new infection and mortality rates – which means we all must redouble our efforts because millions of lives hang in the balance.
“It’s Not Over” said Jerop Limo, Executive Director, Ambassador for Youth and Adolescent Representative Health Programme (AYARHEP) in her bid to remind world leaders, global public health institutions, and civil society that much work remains if we are to one-day end the AIDS epidemic.
