A ship carrying 34 million condoms is expected to dock in Mombasa port, Kenya, this week. The emergency consignment will be distributed immediately to ease the shortage being experienced in some parts of the country.
The announcement was made mid last week by the United Nations Population Fund deputy director for Kenya Alexander Ilyn at a media breakfast in Nairobi. He said a second ship with 39 million condoms will arrive in Mombasa on May 11.
A ship carrying 34 million condoms is expected to dock in Mombasa port, Kenya, this week. The emergency consignment will be distributed immediately to ease the shortage being experienced in some parts of the country.
The announcement was made mid last week by the United Nations Population Fund deputy director for Kenya Alexander Ilyn at a media breakfast in Nairobi. He said a second ship with 39 million condoms will arrive in Mombasa on May 11.
The shiploads will be more than enough for the short-term because the Ministry of Public Health says about 15 million male condoms are used every month, rising to 20 million during school holidays."We have sufficient funding from many partners for purchase of contraceptives with the government of Kenya covering 80 per cent of all cost," Ilyn said. The UNFPA also revealed that the government has made an urgent request for Sh420 million to buy more condoms.
The money is expected to be approved by the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief fund anytime. Ilyn however insisted there are enough condoms in Kenya but are not evenly distributed."UNFPA and our partners are struggling to improve distribution and we are succeeding," he said.
Ilyn however said there is a shortage of latex rubber, which makes condoms, making them expensive worldwide. He said the increase of condoms use in Kenya is as a result of successful reproductive health education.
He encouraged Kenyans to also consider condoms from private suppliers saying the demand is growing and in future, it may not be possible to provide everyone with free ones.
The National Aids and STD Control Programme deputy director Dr Peter Cherutich says starting from May to August they will be receiving a consistent supply of 30 million.
The country's population grows by one million people every year, meaning a similar number probably becomes sexually active every year. Director of Public Health Dr Shahnaz Sharif recently also confirmed the global demand for condoms has outstripped the supply.
About 1.4 million Kenyans are said to be HIV positive, but another 100,000 newly infected are added to that number every year. The government promotes latex condoms because they are highly effective barriers to HIV and other STDs when used consistently and correctly.
This protection is most evident in studies of discordant couples – those couples with one positive and one negative partner.
Discussion about this post