Auleria Wakudumo
An alarm has rung about the shortage of condoms at public health facilities across Namibia, triggering widespread fear about a possible increase in HIV infections, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and teenage pregnancies.
Members of the public informed New Era that they had visited some public hospitals on several occasions but were unable to access condoms. They were told that condoms are out of stock, with no clear indication of when new supplies would arrive.
Similar concerns have also been raised in several remote and rural areas. Residents stated that local clinics have also experienced shortages, limiting access to one of the most widely used HIV prevention methods in the country.
The shortage has sparked anxiety among communities, with some members warning that reduced access to condoms could reverse gains made in the fight against HIV and increase the risk of unintended pregnancies, particularly among young people.
Response
After nearly two weeks, the health ministry could neither confirm nor deny if, indeed, condoms had been depleted at State health facilities across the land.
The ministry blamed the pharmaceuticals that could not providing answers. However, the ministry’s spokesperson, Walter Kamaya, stated that some hospitals, such as Windhoek Central and Katima Mulilo, still have condoms.
Executive Director of the ministry of health, Penda Ithindi, acknowledged the importance of uninterrupted condom availability but emphasised that HIV prevention is not dependent on a single intervention.
“While condom shortages may affect one component of HIV prevention programming, the overall impact on prevention efforts is difficult to determine due to mitigation through the continued implementation of a combination prevention approach,” Ithindi said.
He added that HIV prevention is not dependent on a single intervention but rather on a comprehensive package of services that work synergistically to reduce new infections.
Ithindi stated that in addition to condoms, the ministry promotes and provides other highly effective prevention methods, including HIV testing services to ensure early diagnosis, antiretroviral therapy for treatment as prevention, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), voluntary medical male circumcision, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, behaviour risk reduction interventions and community-based adherence and retention support.
“Therefore, while uninterrupted condom availability remains important as part of a comprehensive prevention package, the presence of multiple complementary interventions helps sustain progress towards national HIV prevention support,” he noted.
Ithindi further stated that while condoms remain a key component in preventing both HIV and other STDs, alternative contraceptive methods are still widely available in public health facilities. These include oral contraceptives, injectables, implants, and counselling services aimed at ensuring continued access to family planning options. The ministry reassured the public that efforts are underway to stabilise supply chains and ensure consistent availability of essential health commodities across all regions. According to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s 2024 HIV Spectrum Estimates, Namibia has been making steady progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS-related deaths, showing a decline.
The estimates showed that approximately 228 538 people were currently living with HIV in Namibia. Despite the new infections, the rate remains a concern, with 6% of new infections recorded across all age groups.
HIV prevalence among individuals aged 15 to 49 stands at 10%, reflecting a continued burden of the epidemic.
Data from the ministry’s 2023 report further revealed that 94% of adults aged 15 and above living with HIV are aware of their status. Of those who know their status, 96% are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 98% have achieved viral suppression, a key milestone in controlling the spread of the virus. The ministry of education revealed that a total of 1 560 learners dropped out of school in 2019, 2 291 dropped out in 2020 and 3 658 dropped out in 2021.
Teenage pregnancy
What is more, back in 2024, Namibia revealed a concerning teenage pregnancy rate of 19% that is allegedly one in five girls.
Asked about the issue of teenage pregnancy, Ithindi said the reduced availability of condoms in the public health sector may present challenges for some adolescents who rely on them as a method of protection. However, teenage pregnancy is influenced by a range of factors beyond access to a single commodity, including access to comprehensive sexuality education, socio-economic circumstances, utilisation of youth-friendly health services and awareness and uptake of available family planning options.
He said continued emphasis on a comprehensive sexual and reproductive health approach, including access to a broad method mix and accurate health information, helps ensure that adolescents are supported to make informed choices while ongoing efforts aim to strengthen commodity availability across the health system.
-awakudumo@nepc.com.na