The Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA), through an integrated Condom distribution pilot program, has effectively distributed 906,760 condoms in the last two months in Kabwe.
ZAMMSA Senior Manager – Corporate Communications Bradley Chingobe says the integrated condom distribution pilot program was launched in Kabwe on the 17th of October 2023 with the sole aim of increasing the uptake of condoms in regions heavily burdened by escalating numbers of HIV/AIDS infections.
“In partnership with stakeholders such as UNFPA, UNAIDS, NAC, NZ+, ZAMSTATS, Restless Development, Mahatma Ghandi Youth Safe Spaces, BBC Media in Africa and the Ministry of Health, 50 Hotspots were identified for the pilot implementation phase,” said Mr Chingobe.
“A total of 114 Condom dispensers were installed in the Hotspots. These dispensers contain an average of 794 condoms each. These dispensers are positioned in places where members of the general public can easily access them. The essence of this is to ensure that accessibility to the condoms is extended to the community in the final last mile of distribution strategy.”
Mr Chingobe said to make this pilot program successful, they had to work with existing structures such as the District HIV/AIDS Coordinator, District Pharmacist, District Health Promotions officers and the District AIDS Coordination Advisor (DACA).