Condom prices slashed by 50%

The spread of HIV/AIDS could be reduced by tremendous percentage in the districts of Ruhango, Karongi, Muhanga, Nyanza, Rutsiro and Ngororero, among many other places in the country if an ongoing national campaign by Society for Family Health (SFH) and Global Fund that has pledged to reduce condom prices for PLAISIR brand by 50 percent proves effective. According to John Butera, Regional Manager for SFH, prices for the condoms have been reduced from Rwf400 to Rwf200 a packet making them more affordable. “Many of our people are not using condoms not because they cannot access them but because of high condom prices. As a result many are contracting HIV/AIDS due to the fear to spend. So making condoms affordable for people to use will reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS by tremendous percentages,” Butera said. He also said that there is need to increase awareness as far as using condoms is concerned because many people are still stuck with cultural and religious briefs. “The challenge of many people not using condoms because of their religion or cultural briefs is the reason we have decided to take condom campaigns closer to the people to try to address such challenges,” he said. Many residents in areas where the campaign has reached so far, such as Rwirangira Christopher in Ruhango Distrcit, have shown excitement at the news that condom prices will be reduced.