Botswana triples condom supply
2003-01-30 14:19
Gaborone - About 14 million condoms are to be distributed in Botswana in the next four years in an effort to curb the spread of HIV/Aids, it has been announced.
"We will treble the annual distribution of condoms (2.9 million in 2001) and have them available within one kilometre of 85% of the population," said health minister Joy Phumaphi at the launch of the $13.5m (about R116m) programme.
The country's free distribution, which covers about 82% of the population, would be supplemented by a network selling condoms at no profit.
In November last year, National Aids Co-ordination Agency director Bhanu Khan said 36% of those aged 15 to 49 in Botswana were HIV-positive.
In the last 10 years, 21 million free condoms have been distributed.
The African Comprehensive HIV and Aids Partnership (Achap), an initiative of the government, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Merck Pharmaceuticals and the Merck Foundation, will fund the programme.
For the first time, it will include limited distribution of the female condom.
The British government, which introduced the 'care' female condom to Botswana a year ago, will fund 500 000 female condoms and will step up its campaign to promote their use.
Achap director Donald de Korte said the programme was an unprecedented effort to increase safe-sex practices in Botswana.
- SAPA