Concerns over condom shortage in Nairobi ahead of Africa’s Climate Summit
Kenya is hosting an estimated 20,000 guests for the Africa Climate Summit amid concerns over a reported shortage of condoms.
This is according to Stanley Ngara, the Founder of the King of Condoms initiative. He has raised concerns over the lack of free condoms from the government during the Summit, which will take place between September 4-6, 2023, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, in Nairobi.
In an interview with the Nairobi News, Mr Ngara said condom dispensers in public places were empty, forcing him to find an alternative way of providing subsidized ones for the benefit of delegates and residents.
“We don’t have enough free-to-use condoms. The last time I checked, the donors like AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) had reduced their donation or canceled it,” he explained.
Mr Ngara says the rising cost of living has not spared the price of condoms in the markets, making them unaffordable for the unemployed and young people who are active in the bedroom.
“High taxes have seen condoms shooting from Sh100 to about Sh200. Young people can’t afford them, more so those who initially used to free condoms.”
He said the shortage of condoms has not been sorted since the start of COVID-19 in 2020, and the youth are highly affected by the situation which will likely expose them to Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
Mr Ngara stated while the government is struggling to provide free condoms to the public, there is an increase in teen pregnancies, citing major cases reported in Thika town, some 50 km away from Nairobi, where a nine-year-old girl was recently impregnated.
King of Condoms has announced his initiative in partnership with Alfa Medical Manufacturer. The collaboration has sourced 400,000 condoms which will be available at selected points within Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD).
Mr Ngara said three pieces of condoms come in one packet at a cost of Sh50 each, which is half the price in the market.
The campaign convoy will be held in some of the roads within the CBD, including Moli Avenue, Kenyatta Avenue, and River Road, among others.
He also confirmed that sex workers in Nairobi will receive free condoms from King of Condoms.
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