Zimbabwe’s public health crisis is likely to deepen as a severe condom shortage is raising concerns about the country’s ability to combat HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI). With donor funding coming to an end, the country’s condom supply chain is under pressure, putting thousands of lives at risk. Experts have warned that the condom shortage threatens to undermine progress made in the prevention of HIV and STI.
Since 2007, the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief and the Global Fund have been the primary funders of Zimbabwe’s public sector condom program. However, these donors have announced plans to discontinue funding in 2026, potentially impacting the program’s sustainability.
To prevent a condom shortage, Zimbabwe needs US$10 million, an amount which apparently the country’s budget cannot afford. An eventual inability to supply condoms could have a negative impact on healthcare indices as the majority of condom users have largely relied on free provision by the public sector and low-cost condoms from the social sector.
This risks becoming a serious issue as effective condom use is acknowledged to be a vital prevention strategy, significantly reducing the risk of HIV and other STIs. A survey by the United Nations Population Fund highlighted that the infection rate started to decrease as condom distribution significantly expanded – from about 20 million in 1994 to over 80 million in 2004. Subsequently, from 2016 to 2023, Zimbabwe procured 811 million condoms, an average of 135 million a year.
According to the United Nations Development Programme, Zimbabwe saw HIV incidence falling by over 50% between the late 1990s and 2022. Furthermore, the number of new infections declined among all age groups in the same period. The prevalence of HIV cases among adults (15-49 years) reached its peak of 26.5% in 1997 and fell to 11% in 2021. There were about 1.3 million people infected with HIV in Zimbabwe in 2022, the same source noted.
Commenting on donors’ decision to halt funding for condom procurement, Abraham Ncube of the National Aids Council warned that this would reduce support for HIV response efforts.
“Donors are cutting back on HIV response support. As a result, individuals may need to start budgeting for condoms, moving away from reliance on free provisions”, Ncube explained.
Zimbabwe’s efforts to combat HIV/AIDS have received substantial support from the U.S., with over US$1 billion in funding allocated over the past five years. However, according to experts, a potential reduction in funding may jeopardize Zimbabwe’s ambitious goal of eradicating the epidemic by 2030.
