Zimbabwe is battling a worsening public health crisis as c+ndom prices soar according to record leveled to us.
A survey by iHarare found that the cheapest option now costs $1.50 per packet, while others are priced between $3.20 and $3.30.
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The price surge follows the suspension of USAID funding due to an executive order by former U.S. President Donald Trump. USAID previously supplied 98% of Zimbabwe’s c+ndoms, both for sale and free distribution. Local brands, such as PSH’s Protector Plus, which operated on a cost-recovery basis, have been severely impacted.
In January 2024, two packets of Protector Plus cost just $1. Today, a single packet costs 150% more. Efforts to reduce costs, including a proposal by Population Solutions for Health (PSH) to remove VAT and import duties, have not been acted upon.
The rising prices pose serious public health risks, particularly in Zimbabwe’s fight against HIV/AIDS. As c+ndoms become less affordable, the country faces an increased threat of HIV transmission and other s+xually transmitted infections.
Zimbabwe remains one of the nations with the highest HIV prevalence rates globally, making this crisis especially alarming.
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