Condom prices are said to have hit all-time highs, posing a threat to Zimbabwe’s public health problem.

According to an iHarare study, the least expensive brand, Protector Plus, is currently around $1.50 per packet, while Fantasy and Carex are $3.20 and $3.30, respectively.

The steep price increase comes after USAID funding was suspended due to an executive order on foreign aid issued by former US President Donald Trump.

“USAID supports the procurement and distribution of 98% of all condoms in Zimbabwe, both for sale and for free. The halt in funding has severely impacted locally available condom brands, such as PSH’s Protector Plus, which are sold in shops for cost recovery,” the report stated.

The article also discussed how prices have increased by 150% since 2023, when two packets of Protector Plus condoms cost barely $1. As a result, many people can no longer afford them.

There has been no response to Population Solutions for Health’s (PSH) calls to eliminate import taxes and VAT on condoms.

The lack of condoms could accelerate the spread of HIV and other STIs in Zimbabwe, which has one of the highest rates of HIV prevalence in the world.