Bulawayo HIV hot­spots face con­dom sup­ply squeeze

Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has raised concern over declining supplies of condoms and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), warning that shortages could undermine HIV prevention efforts in Pumula and Magwegwe, which have emerged as areas of concern for new infections.

The concerns were raised during a council health committee meeting, where councillors questioned whether the city's HIV prevention programmes were adequately equipped to respond to worrying trends in the two high-density suburbs.

Councillors linked the shortages to declining donor support for HIV prevention programmes, warning that reduced availability of key prevention commodities could make it more difficult to curb new infections.

BCC Director of Health Services Dr Edwin Mzingwane Sibanda told the committee that condom supplies had declined following the withdrawal of donor funding, including United States foreign health assistance.

He said PrEP, which reduces the risk of acquiring HIV when taken as prescribed, had also previously been supported by USAID. Council is now planning to expand the number of health facilities offering the prevention service.

“The funding challenges have raised concerns over the sustainability of HIV prevention programmes at a time when some communities are experiencing worrying HIV trends. However, council continues to distribute condoms despite the supply constraints," Dr Mzingwane Sibanda said.

Despite the reported supply challenges, the city distributed 216,800 male condoms in June, up from 177,000 in May.

Female condom distribution, however, declined from 3,980 in May to 2,280 in June. The health department attributed the decrease partly to myths and misconceptions surrounding female condom use.

Dr Mzingwane Sibanda said council was implementing several measures to improve access to condoms, including integrating their distribution into HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health programmes and broader community health promotion initiatives.

Councillors said the significant disparity in the uptake of male and female condoms highlighted the need for stronger interventions to ensure women have access to prevention methods that they can initiate themselves.

The health committee also raised concerns about social and behavioural factors that could be contributing to risky sexual behaviour in Pumula and Magwegwe.

Councillors pointed to the proliferation of illegal nightclubs and allegations that some sports bars had been converted into nightclubs, calling for stricter enforcement of council regulations governing such establishments.

They also expressed concern over some bush churches operating in secluded areas, arguing that certain activities could potentially expose congregants to risky sexual behaviour.

Council was urged to engage such churches on HIV prevention and safer-sex practices while enforcing by-laws governing the establishment and operation of church shrines in bushy areas.

Residents were encouraged to practise safer sex, including consistent and correct condom use, regular HIV testing and maintaining mutually faithful sexual relationships.

The concerns come as Bulawayo intensifies targeted HIV prevention programmes in communities considered particularly vulnerable to new infections.

The developments have also highlighted the vulnerability of essential HIV prevention programmes to fluctuations in external donor funding and the need for sustainable domestic financing to ensure continued access to critical health commodities.