The price of condoms in Kisumu city has shot up as the county is struggling with shortage of the commodity.
A condom is now being sold at Kshs100 in shops according to a report by Daily Nation. On the other hand, the government has only managed to provide 5000 condoms across the county.
The free condoms will not be available in dispensers that have been placed across the county but only a few designated spots.
“We have a shortage and the few available condoms have been distributed to hospitals and drop-in centres where key vulnerable populations can access them,” Kisumu County director of public health Dr Fred Oluoch said.
This comes at a time when the county is hosting the biggest event, the 9th Africities conference that kicked off on Tuesday May 17. The conference is one of the biggest gathering that Kisumu has ever hosted.
Some of the condoms will be distributed at the venue of the conference while others were distributed to universities and colleges in the city. Oluoch further advised the public to purchase the commodity from shops.
Due to the shortage, County officials and health sector stakeholders have called upon guests, locals and revelers to take necessary precautions.
Locals however fear that the shortage could expose the public to Sexually Transmitted Infections.
“We are among counties with the highest HIV prevalence in the country and therefore the need for protection at all costs. This shortage just exposes the already vulnerable groups,” Erick Okioma, founder of Nelson Mandela TB HIV Community Based Organization based in Nyalenda, said.
RELATED STORY:Bye Bye Condoms, Raw Sex It Is! World’s First Injection Regimen For HIV Prevention Is Approved
