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Friday, May 22, 2015

Zimbabwe’s condom usage now tops that of any other country in the world, with over 109 million condoms used in 2014. These safe sex practices have helped the southern African country lower the number of HIV infections, according to data collected by the state-run National Aids Council (NAC) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

“We are the highest consumers of condoms in the world currently. That is why we have realized a reduction in HIV infection rates,” Amon Mpofu, NAC’s director of monitoring and evaluating, toldNews24 in South Africa on Thursday. “We had 104 million male condoms and 5.2 million female condoms distributed in 2014 alone.”

HIV infections in Zimbabwe were cut in half for adults from 2009 to 2015, and by 30 percent among children from 2010 to 2015. HIV and AIDS-related mortality rates in Zimbabwe also dropped by 30 percent for adults and children by 2015, according to the report.

The UNFPA is the largest international supplier of condoms. Free condoms are also distributed by the Zimbabwean government, nongovernmental organizations and social marketing campaigns. However, most condoms in Zimbabwe are now purchased. Female condom sales in the southern African country are among the highest in the world. Despite Zimbabwe’s large-scale condom distribution, gaps in consistent condom use persist, the report said.