Prices of condoms skyrocket after US cut HIV funding

Zimbabwe’s public health crisis has recently come under threat as condom prices are reported to have reached record highs.

A survey by iHarare shows that the cheapest option, Protector Plus, now costs nearly $1.50 per packet, while Fantasy and Carex brands are priced at $3.20 and $3.30, respectively.

The sharp price hike follows the halt in USAID funding, stemming from former US President Donald Trump’s executive order on foreign aid.

“USAID supports the procurement and distribution of 98% of all condoms in Zimbabwe, both for sale and for free. The halt in funding has severely impacted locally available condom brands, such as PSH’s Protector Plus, which are sold in shops for cost recovery,” the report reads.

Further on the report was the contrast of prices in 2023, with two packets of Protector Plus condoms going for just $1, but prices have since surged by 150%, making them unaffordable for many.

Calls from Population Solutions for Health (PSH) to remove VAT and import duties on condoms remain unanswered.

With Zimbabwe having one of the highest HIV prevalence rates globally, the condom shortage threatens to escalate the spread of HIV and other STIs.