Malawi hit by condom shortage, concerns over sex diseases –FPAM
The Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM)has expressed concern over the critical shortage of condoms at the moment in the country, raising fear of increased cases of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies among girls.
The development comes as the central medical stores is said to have unlimited stock of the commodity in their warehouse.
FPAM, which relies on government free supplies of condoms which they provide to clients in their facilities, claimed that they started experiencing the shortage in May this year.
However, FPAM Program Manager, Thoko Njoloma told reporters who visited one of their facilities in Lilongwe that they have been trying to procure from the Population Service International but could not manage to sustain their effort since they rely mainly on the free condoms from government.
She also indicated they are expecting a consignment of the commodity this month from JSI Deliver, a United States Agency for International Development funded project aimed at enhancing supply chain system in the country.
Njoloma said they have been receiving a high number of young girls seeking access to post abortion care services.
Meanwhile, the review workshop on scorecard (Kalondolondo Project) revealed that many Malawian women shun the use of female condoms and they prefer use male condoms because female condoms are not user friendly.
Some women, according to Kalondolondo Project, find it painful to use, especially due to the inner ring that makes it difficult to manipulate and insert it in the vagina before sexual intercourse.
The female condom is a 17cm-long polyurethane sheath with a flexible ring at each end. It provides about the same protection from sexually transmitted infections – including HIV – and unwanted pregnancy as the male condom, but unlike the male condom, can be used with oil- and water-based lubricants without the risk of breakage, according to Kalondolondo Project.
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