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Midlands Bureau Chief
THE level of consciousness on practising safer sex is growing in Gweru District where over 600 000 condoms for both females and males have been distributed from January to date compared to 388 030 distributed last year.

The increase is mainly attributed to the role played by Condom Champions (CC) who are working to ensure that people have easy access to the products.

When used correctly and consistently, they are a reliable method of preventing pregnancy and protecting both partners from sexuallky transmitted infections (STIs), including chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV and Aids.

In an interview, Mr Petros Mazengwa, who is Gweru District HIV and Aids co-ordinator at the National Aids Council (NAC) said 581 709 male condoms and 24 716 female ones were distributed.

“Gweru district has recorded a surge in condom use after over 600 000 condoms both female and male were distributed from January to date. Condoms distributed are 581 709 males and 24 716 females,” he said.
Last year, Mr Mazengwa said male condoms distributed were 369 167 while female condoms were 18 863.

“A total 388 030 condoms distributed last year in the district meaning we have a surge in condom distribution this year,” he said.

Mr Mazengwa said NAC has engaged the services of CC who are also supporting in terms of condom distribution.
He said the CC volunteers are based in the wards and are involved in condom distribution, monitoring and information dissemination on ‘combination HIV prevention’.

National Aids Council

“The district currently has 19 Condom Champions covering all wards. The Condom Champions also support other combination prevention programs by way of creating demand for services like HIV testing services (HTS), voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC), prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), cancer screening and others,” said Mr Mazengwa.

He said CC distributed 52 percent of condoms reaching out to our hotspots around Gweru CBD and at beer outlets in our suburbs.

He said condoms are usually distributed at hotspots like beer outlets, clubs and other public drinking facilities.

“Some key populations like sex workers also liaise direct with our Condom Champions for the supply of condoms. The condoms are also distributed in institutions of higher learning in the district,” said Mr Mazengwa.

He said demand for female condoms is generally low compared to the male condoms in the district.
“People are just used to male condoms. Even if you display male and female condoms you will notice that even most females also pick male condoms.

“Maybe it’s just a matter of tastes and preferences. Some people just have the perception that they are difficult to use, yet that’s not really the case,” said Mr Mazengwa.

“We have also noted that some males are also now preferring the female condom.”
Condom use is regarded as an effective way of reducing HIV infection and unwanted pregnancies.

“Parents and adolescents should be equipped with understanding on the current prevention programmes, since they interact on day-to-day basis,” said Mr Mazengwa.

He said in Gweru HIV prevalence is hovering around 13,5 percent with incidence at 0.32 percent
Mr Mazengwa said by the end of 3rd quarter of 2022, there were 16 213 people on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) — 7 929 males and 8 284 females.