CHINHOYI – MASHONALAND West provincial education director is concerned that the
condom distribution coverage decreased considerably at the Government complex,
which also houses the Ministries of Primary and Secondary Education and Home Affairs
and Cultural Heritage offices.
Gabriel Mhuma, the provincial education director, raised alarm during a meeting of
Mashonaland West stakeholders organised by the Zimbabwe National Family Planning
Council in Chinhoyi recently.
Mhuma said that while the supply used to be constant, it had, however, since stopped.
Responding to Mhuma’s observation, the Provincial Nursing Officer, Farai Marufu,
assured the stakeholders that the issue would be attended to as a matter of urgency.
“We shall resume supply by tomorrow without fail. All Government premises will be
equipped and condoms are always available at our stores. The shortage could have
been caused by human error, focal person should approach me.
“Our offices are just next to your offices, we do not require transport to reach there. All
other stakeholders who are facing the same challenge, please raise me through the
phone and we will respond instantly,” Marufu assured.
Marufu said that if the condom uptake increases by more than five percent it would
require investigation. Giving an example, he said, at one point there was a seven
percent increase but when an investigation was undertaken, it was discovered that the
particular brand of condoms were being used to manufacture floor polish.
There was also another report that at Chinhoyi Central prison, condoms were being
misused by prison officers, who collected packs of hundreds of condoms which they use
as garter for their uniform socks.
Stakeholders raised a point of concern, saying that they had observed that was a spike
in the demand of lubricants by young people and a suggestion was made to investigate
why there was such a high demand for these lubricants by young people.
There was also a concern on non-availability of data from the private players such as
pharmacies and private clinics.
Stakeholders encouraged each other to keep the good work and not to give up because
of being discouraged because of misuse by other people.
