THE Population Services International (PSI) Zimbabwe has
hiked prices of its condoms, which will see the retail price of the
contraceptive going up by over 100% with effect from this month.
The move will disenfranchise ordinary citizens who are
already struggling to make ends meet and fears abound that the country will
witness a spike in unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections
(STIs) as well as HIV spread.
In a memo seen by NewsDay, consumers will be buying a
three-pack packet of condoms for $6.“Please note that prices of Protector Plus
condoms have gone up effective August 1, 2019,” the memo reads.
Before the sharp increase, Protector Plus condoms, which
comes in various flavours including strawberry, banana and vanilla, were
selling between $2 and $3 in most retail outlets around the country.
In a country where prices of everything have been going up,
it is no surprise that the condom prices have also followed suit.
Meanwhile, a serious shortage of condoms and contraceptives
in Zvimba district and other areas in Mashonaland West has fuelled concerns of
unwanted pregnancies and STIs.
For the past few months, many areas in the district have
gone without the male condom and contraceptives, which are all key in stemming
spread of the STIs and unwanted pregnancies.
Authorities are currently battling to mobilise the condoms
and contraceptives from other provinces.
Worst affected are growth points, where a sizeable population
meet for fun and pleasure.
Zvimba district medical officer Terence Dandadzi confirmed
the shortages in the district.
“We have facilities with shortages, but we are mobilising
from other districts,” he said.
Mashonaland West provincial medical director Wenceslaus
Nyamayaro said they had been advised to liaise with colleagues in other
districts within the province and share what is available.
Contraceptive shortages have become a national challenge,
with several areas around the country experiencing similar problems.
In April this year, public health institutions in
Matabeleland North and South provinces ran out of contraceptives, leaving most
women stranded because they could not afford the high prices charged by private
pharmacies.
Director of family health in the Health ministry, Bernard
Madzima, at the time said while for the whole country they had stock of most
forms of contraceptives for five months, Matabeleland was experiencing some
problems, which they attributed to challenges in the distribution hain.
There have been claims that the shipment carrying the
contraceptives was damaged while on its way from India last year and so they
had to wait for another consignment.
“It is disappointing that sexual reproductive health rights
are under threat yet Zimbabwe has made tremendous progress in addressing family
planning challenges and gaps,” Fungisayi Dube, of the Citizens Health Watch,
said.
Dube added that women would be the most affected.
“Unwanted and unplanned pregnancies will increase, leading
to backyard abortions. The government should take these shortages seriously and
put women’s lives and health first, for once,” she said. Newsday
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