THE Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed that there is a shortage of condoms in all its districts.
This is because condom suppliers don’t have stock to deliver to the province from the beginning of the new contract in February 2022. Suppliers were waiting for the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) sample approval before ordering bulk stock from manufacturers.
Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko revealed this on Tuesday, 25 April, in a written response to the question in the legislature.
According to Nkomo-Ralehoko, the shortage of condoms has been experienced by all five health districts in Gauteng, which is of great concern.
She said: “Condom shortage leads to an increase in Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs). This includes Male Urethritis Syndrome, which increased from 5486 in February 2022 to 6035 in February this year," said the MEC.
According to the StatsSA mid-year report for 2022, an estimated 13,9% of the population in South Africa is HIV positive.
This is a sharp increase from an estimated 3,68 million in 2002 to 8,45 million by 2022.
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The stats further show that almost a fourth of South African women in their reproductive age are HIV positive, while the HIV prevalence among the youth aged 15–24 has remained stable.
DA Gauteng shadow health MEC Jack Bloom said: “In 2021/22, only 129 million male condoms and 5,2 million female condoms were distributed, a 45% decline.”
He said the current shortage issue in Gauteng is a disgrace.
“They have a vital role to play in family planning as well as prevention of HIV/Aids and other STIs.
“We need to get the basics right in healthcare in Gauteng. This includes proper contract management so that reliable and cost-effective suppliers are always chosen, rather than companies that don’t deliver,” said Bloom.
