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Thandeka Moyo, Health Reporter
ZIMBABWE on Wednesday joined the international community in marking World Condom Day with reports that the HIV burdened country needs 173 million condoms a year.

International Condom Day is observed on 13 February a day before Valentine’s Day which falls on the 14th in order to remind people to use condoms to promote safer sex.

Condom use is one of the seven tried and tested HIV prevention methods recommended and so far the use of condoms is the only method that provides dual protection from HIV, STIs and even unwanted pregnancies.

Its consistent and correct use can reduce the risk of HIV and some sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) by up to 99 percent.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health and Child Care deputy director for HIV and Aids and STIs Dr Tsitsi Apollo said an estimated 2 million STI transmissions were prevented in the last 20 years in Zimbabwe.

“Zimbabwe needs 173 million condoms a year to cater for the need as these are at the heart of HIV prevention. In 2017, 122 million condoms were accessed through the help of our partners who deal with sexual and reproductive health rights and 98 million were used,” said Dr Apollo.

She emphasised the need for adolescents who according to UNAids are fuelling most of the new HIV infections to consider condoms. The Ministry in partnership with United Nations Population Fund, National Aids Council and other partners launched a programme dubbed “Condomise” to educate people on how to use condoms correctly and to support the Government in making a variety of condoms and water-based lubricants available.

According to AVERT, a global data organisation on HIV and Aids, the HIV epidemic in Zimbabwe is largely driven by unprotected heterosexual sex.

“Women are disproportionately affected, particularly adolescent girls and young women.

However, there are growing epidemics among key populations such as sex workers and men who have sex with men who are at higher risk of HIV,” says Avert. The Ministry, however, said condom use remains low in key populations which include adolescent girls, sex workers, prisoners and men who have sex with other men.

Zimbabwe’s HIV prevalence rate is at 13,7 percent, the fifth highest in the region.The country, through its prevention programmes, has averted 1, 7 million Aids-related deaths since 1999.

The country is working towards ending HIV and Aids by 2030. The 2030 targets come after the 2020 global targets which call for 90 percent of population to know their HIV status and for 90 percent of those who test positive to be under ART. — @thamamoe.