UGANDA: Lack of free condoms could fuel HIV - official

JOHANNESBURG, 2 Mar 2005 (PLUSNEWS) - An acute shortage of free condoms at landing sites for fishermen in Uganda's Kalangala district on Lake Victoria could escalate the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, a senior government official has warned.

A local newspaper, New Vision, quoted the district's chief administrative officer, Olive Hope Nakyanzi, as saying: "There are many women jamming landing sites to trap money from fishermen. Most of them come when they are [HIV-positive] and engage in commercial sex."

She pointed out that 'Engabu condoms', the National Drug Authority's free brand, were banned last year, which had not helped the situation.

Nakyanzi was concerned that most fishermen and sex workers could not afford the condoms sold at some clinics, and urged the authorities to distribute subsidised condoms again.

[ENDS]