Zambia, Kabwe: Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency of Zambia, Kabwe has distributed 813,000 male condoms in the Kabwe district out of 1 million 800thousand target between the period 17th October, 2023 and November 28th, 2023.
During an interview with journalists at the last mile condom distribution workshop at Zambezi Source Lodge in Kabwe, Bradrey Chingobe, who is corporate communications senior manager at ZAMMSA, disclosed that 91 community members from sex hot sports were identified to carry out the distribution exercise. These included hotel and lodge attendants, bartenders and health care providers.
The project, which was launched on 17th october 2023 was aimed at increasing the uptake of condom usage in HIV burdened areas in the country.
Chingole disclosed that the integrated condom pilot project aimed to achieve three main goals, which were to create stewardship platforms at both provincial and district levels, assessment of HIV hotspots, and thirdly the installation of condom dispensers in hotspots where people and the public can easily get condoms for free without hindrance.
Speaking at the same event, central province assistant secretary Mwape Kasanda said there was a need for intensified efforts to distribute condoms by both the government and the private sector involved in the condom distribution where they are mostly needed. He said condoms were critical in HIV and STI prevention as well as unintended pregnancies.
Kasanda emphasized that to achieve HIV free Zambia by 2030, there was a need for government health care providers, community organizations and individuals to work together.
He said there was a need to invest in comprehensive HIV prevention programs to increase funding for research and development of new treatments and strengthen health care systems.
And Kasanda has reiterated that Zambia can attain the global goal of having an HIV free generation if there is unity in implementing evidence based interventions.