Condom Shortage: BONELA Calls For Action
Staff Writer | Tuesday December 21, 2021 06:00
“Botswana is one of the countries in the world with a high HIV prevalence. According to UNAIDS, it is estimated that about 350,000- 400,000 people in Botswana are living with HIV. To mitigate this, the government, hand-in-hand with non-governmental organisations such as BONELA, BOCAIP etc. have come up with strategies that are aimed at not only reducing the spread of HIV and AIDS but also reducing new infections,” reads a statement from BONELA.
“These strategies include but are not limited to; offering sex education in schools to adolescent girls and boys, having health promotional talks, facilitation of PrEP and PEP and most importantly distributing free condoms, not only to the key population but to the general public at large.”
The Cindy Kelemi-led organisation further states that they are saddened by the fact that recently, Botswana has been experiencing an uttermost shortage of condoms.
“Through our anecdotal data, we found out that out of the five districts which we are implementing in; Boteti, Francistown, Palapye, Tutume and Maun only one district, which is Tutume is not affected by this phenomena. It has come to our attention that in districts like Letlhakane and Palapye there are no condoms at all both in government health posts and non-governmental organisations such as Sisonke. In Districts such as Maun and Francistown, the DHMT reports that it is only left with a few boxes of condoms of which are given to only key populations,” they wrote.
The NGO further stated that the government and relevant stakeholders must come together and act upon this problem. The state of lack of condoms in the country does not only threaten the achievements that Botswana has made in combating the HIV pandemic but also the global goal which is to end AIDS by 2030.
“We cannot reach this goal if we are unable to provide people with necessities that they use to protect themselves against this virus. Government should consider engaging the private sector in the short term to address condom stock-outs,” they wrote.
Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness Sethomo Lelatisitswe recently told Parliament that the shortage of condoms was first experienced in August 2021 to date.
He added that the tendering process for a framework contract for branded condoms was ongoing and is expected to be finalised in the next three months.
However, Lelatisitswe said the government has implemented mitigating strategies while awaiting the finalisation of a full framework contract. He disclosed that a donation from the ministry’s development partner is expected in the country around mid-December 2021.