In Kisaro Sector, Rulindo District, Simon Nteziyaremye, a local teenager, says that despite the availability of condoms in the area, he still doesn’t have the courage to face a community health worker whenever he needs a condom.

"How do you ask a friend of your parents for a condom? Mind you, you have to do this on several occasions,” he asks.

Nteziyaremye says on top of worrying about what the community health worker will think, there is also the possibility that the person might end up informing one’s parents.

According to Nteziyaremye, the shame associated with this has seen many of his friends end up indulging in unprotected sex.

"The fear that comes with your parents scolding you for being sexually active is something else,” he says. At the moment, Nteziyaremye isn’t aware of his HIV status, neither has he gone for testing for any sexually transmitted diseases.

Annociata Nyiraminani, another youngster in the same area, says a girl going to a community health worker for a condom is automatically considered a sex worker.

"One might not tell you this but considering how sex is regarded, a young person trying to access condoms is one way of communicating that you are a bad influence to those around you,” she says.

For most of the young people interviewed, their plea is that they find a designated place where condoms can be placed so that everyone can access them in private.

What authorities say

Patricia Dusabimana, a community health worker in Rwarubuguzu Village, Rulindo District, says that in most villages, condoms just like any other health services, have been placed in the hands of community health workers, who are in charge of providing such services to those around or within a given area.

She notes that there is a high possibility of young people being embarrassed by asking for condoms from health workers, considering their age.

This behaviour, Dusabimana says, puts most of them at risk of having unprotected sex, which in the end exposes them to STIs, as well as early pregnancies.

As health workers, their work is to provide health services to all people irrespective of their age, however, it’s just common that some youth may shun seeking help because of the stigma and what society will think of them.

She adds that another issue is that this group of people who are still young, have no source of income—they can hardly afford condoms even if they wanted to buy them from other places, rather than being given for free by health workers.

The executive secretary of Kisaro Sector, Arcade Kabayiza, says that there is embarrassment that comes with accessing condoms from health workers, especially if one is young.

He notes that to solve the issue, plans are underway to include community health workers in youth groups and youth committees, as well as train them on how best they can go about this issue.

"We also plan to educate and train the youth as well as parents to help them understand the importance of protecting yourself while indulging in any sexual activity,” he says.

Dr Charles Berabose, MD Viral hepatitis control at Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), says that although there are no barriers when it comes to accessing condoms, there is a need to continue mobilising and encouraging the young population to protect themselves always whenever they are having sexual intercourse.

Meanwhile, according to the 2019-2020 Rwanda Demographic Health Survey (RDHS), it is estimated that about 4.4 per cent of the general population in the 15-49 age bracket reported having at least one STI symptom during the last 12 months before the survey.

From RBC data, it indicates that in one year, they supply over 32 million condoms nationwide, there are also nine kiosks in centres such as health centres, private clinics, and youth corners, which requested for the kiosks to be put in place, in addition to other kiosks available countrywide.

In addition to this, available data from RBC indicates that only 84 per cent of Rwandans have taken the test to know their status.

A recent survey from RBC shows that HIV infection in Rwanda is at three per cent, and the numbers vary by age or gender. This percentage is for those between the ages of 15 and 64.