AHF decry taxation on condoms leading to increase in HIV and STI infections in Kenya

KENYA – The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), has warned that the shortage of free condoms in the country is leading to a new wave of HIV and other STI infections and increased unplanned pregnancies among young people and vulnerable populations.

AHF Kenya, Country Program Director, Dr. Samuel Kinyanjui reported that the current condom shortage in Kenya has been affected since 2022 because of the tax requirement by the government.

Condoms were categorized as medical devices rather than a medical supplies therefore attracting the 16 percent added tax.

Condoms are usually imported by the Kenya government, civil society organizations, and other HIV/AIDS advocates and distributed for free but due to taxes imposed on the commodity most donors are no longer providing Kenya with free condoms Kinyanjui said.

Kenyan Government was procuring 150 million pieces against a forecasted demand of 262 million and the remaining gap was filled by donors through various non-governmental organizations.

“We are calling on the government to come up with modalities of bringing down the prevailing high taxes against those willing to step in and help the country restock,” said Dr. Kinyanjui.

AHF proposes that the government adopt and support a whole-market approach to its condom policies and suggests that, of the total needed condoms, 50 percent go toward free and non-taxed distribution for lower-income people while 40 percent be socially marketed at low cost and tax.

Moreover, the remaining 10 percent could be allocated for the premium market but with no government incentives attached.

Most condom dispensers in health facilities, hotels, offices, universities, colleges, and restaurants that were previously able to provide these products to their customers no longer have free condoms.

Dr Kinyanjui also revealed shortages of HIV test kits saying most of the testing facilities are reserving the kits for high-risk populations.

“9 out of 10 people who are in need of testing cannot access it, it is difficult to walk into any facility and get tested for HIV,” he said.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation Youth Ambassador, Ferdinand Omanyala, stated that AIDS is the leading cause of death and morbidity among adolescents and young people in Kenya.

“The male latex condom remains the single most efficient available technology to reduce HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,” said Omanyala.

Omanyala asked the government and stakeholders to ensure the availability of condoms in public facilities.

AHF reports that Kenyan men surpassed women in HIV prevalence for the first time in 8 years

AHF also released a study that reported that the positivity rate among men in Kenya in 2022 surpassed that of women for the first time since 2015 AIDs Healthcare Foundation (AHF).

According to the study, the positivity rate in men in 2022 spiked to 3.1% from around 2.5% registered in 2021.

This is the first time since 2015 that the positivity rate in men was higher than that of women, which according to the report, was at 2.7% in 2022.

AHF among other things blamed the trend on the current condom shortage which has increased unprotected sex among individuals. 

A KDHS survey in 2022 revealed Kenyan men have an average of seven partners, putting themselves and others at risk of HIV.

The study noted that women continue to shoulder the heaviest burden of the disease, revealing that under AHF, of the 96,601 patients, 65,336 were women, while men were 31,265. 

“We understand that men are not good at getting tested. Some wait until the disease has taken a terrible toll before showing up for treatment. This should stop,” Dr. Kinyanjui added. 

Janet Musimbi, Programme officer- of the Adolescent and Youth (program at the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council), said HIV prevalence is increasing in previously low-burden counties. 

The counties with high prevalence, she said, include Homa Bay (15.2%), Kisumu (14.5%), Siaya (13.2%), Migori (9.7%), Busia (5%), Mombasa (4.8%), Kisii (4.4%), Samburu (4.3), Vihiga (4.2%) and Uasin Gishu (3.7%). 

On teen pregnancies, she listed Meru as the county with the biggest burden noting that Governor Kawera Mwangaza-led county had the highest number recorded between January and May 2023.

The Status of HIV/AIDS in Kenya

The National Syndemic Diseases Council notes that Kenya has the seventh highest number of people living with HIV in Africa with estimated 61 HIV infections every day, of concern is that four percent of People living with HIV are not on put treatment.

AHF Kenya reports that in Kenya approximately 1.4 million people are living with HIV with a 4.2% national prevalence, an estimated 41,416 new HIV infections which reflects a 44% reduction of new infections. 

Moreover, HIV-related deaths have significantly reduced over the years due to the increase in number of people accessing treatment. 

Additionally, out of the 1.4 million Kenyans living with HIV, approximately 1,160,479 (1,087,511 adults and 72,968 children) were on antiretroviral therapy, representing an estimated treatment coverage of 80% among adults (68% among children) as of 2019.

AHF Kenya has a prevention program that works in collaboration with the Ministry of Health for HIV Primary Prevention including Adolescent and Youth Programs, PMTCT, testing, and condom education and distribution.

AHF Kenya’s strategic partners include the national and county governments, the Ministry of Health through NASCOP and NACC, and civil society organizations including NEPHAK, KANCO, KELIN, and HENNET among others.

AHF Kenya also supports a multi-pronged prevention program that includes strategic and targeted free HIV testing and counseling which allows the team to identify people living with HIV who are out of care and link them to services. 

More than 1,000,000 people have been tested for HIV since 2009 through AHF Kenya’s rapid testing program, and over 3 million condoms were distributed through local outreach and safer sex promotions.

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