Declining donor funds and a global squeeze have created a condom shortage in Ethiopia. While needing 250 million condoms annually, the country manages to supply less than half. The result is a decline in giveaways – universities, restaurants, and public spaces rarely receive them anymore, finds BERSABEH GEBRE, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER.

Behind a nondescript facade in Addis Abeba lies a hidden drop-in centre. Among the young women who shuffle to the front desk is a 25-year-old sex worker (name withheld), entering in her pyjamas, remnants of makeup clinging to her face. Every night, she joins 19 others at the centre. It is a haven after long, cold hours spent waiting for clients on the street.

They take showers and meals every day and get free tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) regularly. But the lifeline offered at the drop-in centre is condoms. The bi-weekly allotment of eight packets from PSI Ethiopia helps them stretch their earnings. However, there is a supply gap.

"There is a massive shortage," said the woman.

She came to Addis Abeba four years ago. She claims that some clients, unwilling to pay more, gamble with their health, opting for unprotected sex. But the former waitress, driven to sex work by financial hardship, believes condoms are a matter of life and death.

"Half my income went to buying condoms last month," she recalls. Meanwhile, her dreams of housekeeping jobs in the Middle East fade with each Birr spent on overpriced hotel condoms.

International donor funds for HIV/AIDS prevention have shrunk despite rising infection rates in Ethiopia. Combined with a global funding squeeze, this has shattered the country's condom supply. This gap is filled by a combination of government agencies such as Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Services (EPSS), non-governmental organisations like DKT International, and private importers. However, out of the annual 250 million condom demand they managed to cover about 100 million. The result is a decline in free giveaways – universities, restaurants, and public spaces rarely see them anymore.

Health centres also limited free giveaways to three packs a person, with a pack consisting of three pieces. Addis Abeba City Health Bureau distributed eight million condoms in the first nine months, to 120 institutions. About 98 are health centres while the remaining are hospitals and wereda youth centres.

Officials pin the giveaway limits on abuse. Seyfe Demisse, head of pharmaceutical supply services at the Bureau, said the cap on the number of pieces an individual could take as necessary.

"People were selling the condoms they got for free," Seyfe told Fortune.

District health centre managers paint a different picture. Fikadu Worku, manager of a health centre in Addis Ketema District, said they heavily rely on donors, as government supplies fall far short. His centre received 5,040 packs from EPSS in the last nine months against a request of 14,000, while donors provided 32,170 in the same period. Fikadu suspects some might be reselling giveaways, prompting the restriction to ensure wider access.

"Gone are the days of grabbing a handful," he said.

However, officials at the Ministry of Health present another perspective. They acknowledge complications in the procurement process due to a supply shock following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Abnet Assefa, head of HIV prevention & control at the Ministry, cites a supply shock has shifted focus to targeted protection for high-risk groups such as adolescent girls, sex workers, and labourers, due to declining global funding.

"Distribution is expensive," Abnet said, "We have to prioritise strategically."

However, this targeted approach leaves universities in the lurch. For two years, the clinic at Addis Abeba Science & Technology University has not received any supplies, despite serving nearly 6,500 students. Wondifraw Seyfe, public health officer at the University, observes ascending cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies.

"Every week, I turn away at least five students needing condoms," Wondifraw told Fortune.

Condom use has been instrumental in slashing new HIV infections by 59pc since 2010. The annual countdown has elevated to around 8,000 this year. With over half a million people living with HIV and high infection rates in Addis Abeba and Gambela areas, the country relies heavily on foreign donors for a steady supply of testing kits, anti-retroviral drugs, and emergency contraception pills. This dependence creates vulnerabilities when donor funding fluctuates.

Fikadu Yadeta, lead executive of HIV control at the Ministry, stressed the need for a national prevalence survey, as the last one was eight years ago.

"Increased testing is crucial to identify those unknowingly infected," Fikadu said.

Fikadu disclosed plans to increase government-imported condoms in the coming years. However, he suggests alternative solutions for institutions like universities and hotels. He recommends purchasing condoms at discounted rates from organisations like DKT, freeing up the limited supply for those who need it most.

The lack of access extends beyond disease prevention. The Ministry of Health does not prioritise condoms for family planning.