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Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
A TOTAL of 104 million male condoms and 5.2 million female condoms were distributed in Zimbabwe last year, an indication that the majority of sexually active people in the country could be having protected sex, an official has said.In an interview, National Aids Council (Nac) director of monitoring and evaluation, Amon Mpofu said 109.2 million condoms were distributed last year compared to 28 million distributed in 2013.

About 25 million condoms were distributed in 2012.

Mpofu said the safe sex practices had assisted the country in lowering the HIV infections and prevalence rate.

“We had 104 million male condoms and 5.2 million female condoms distributed last year alone,” said Mpofu.

He said HIV infections in adults had been reduced by about 30 percent between 2009 and this year.

Mpofu said the large-scale condom distribution were, however, not a clear indication of consistent condom use by the sexual active individuals.

“I, however, think we should be proud as a country in that we’re on the right track. Condom use is one of the critical methods and strategies in the fight against the Aids scourge. It’s very much encouraged,” he said.

Mpofu said it would be a very welcome development if couples freely discuss condom use in homes to curb new infections.

He said the government would continue availing free condoms to fight the scourge.

According to Nac about 1.3 million Zimbabweans are estimated to be living with HIV and Aids and of these, 618,980 are adults and 46,319 are children on ART.