STIs, unwanted pregnancies loom as condom price skyrockets
Nevertheless, attempts to learn from the agency whether it is aware of the killer cocktail—which, based on all signs, is not a recent addition to the Nigerian market—and what steps have been done to stifle its use, distribution, and manufacturing failed.
The phone of Mr. Sayo Akintola, the resident media consultant for NAFDAC in Lagos, was off when we tried to reach him.
Messages sent to him were also unanswered at the time this report was filed.
"That is the price," blurted the young woman, who was eager to serve the other customers huddled around the pay point. If you're not ready, just allow me to take care of other customers.
When he finished his dinner, Uba wandered into the dimly lit street, lost in thought. He had expected to have a calming and exciting romp with his wife.
Condom prices have soared dramatically, just like those of other goods.
The outrageous increase in condom prices in Nigeria has been widely bemoaned by men who use commercial sex workers, those who have side chicks, couples who use condoms as a family planning method, and commercial sex workers.
While some men take pleasure in engaging in unprotected sex with their wives, they felt it was dangerous to do the same with strangers and not use condoms. These men voiced their displeasure over the price increase.
They claim that over 300 percent of the cost of various brands of condoms, which are necessary during intercourse to prevent the spread of infections and safeguard against unintended pregnancies, has gone up.
"I never imagined that things would get so bad in Nigeria these days that condoms would become unaffordable to buy. I paid N1300 for a pack of Durex Extra Safe condoms in October, but the current price varies depending on where you purchase it.
"The cost increased as well when I chose Durex Feels, which was less expensive. The price of a pack has increased from N300 to N700, according to Mr. Mathew Babawale, a father of four, who told our correspondent that he uses a condom when having sex with his girlfriend.
The 42-year-old truck driver claimed he wouldn't have cared about the increase in condom prices if it weren't for the fact that certain non-governmental organisations had made them aware of the dangers of unprotected sex.
Babawale expressed his worry saying, "Because of the nature of my work, I am constantly on the road. I frequently travel outside of Lagos to deliver goods and may be away from my family for more than two weeks." I will always feel the need to have sex because I am a man.
"I use condoms whenever I want to have sex, and I always keep a pack in my truck." I usually have unguarded sex with my wife, but we also use the withdrawal method if we think it's unsafe to prevent an unintended pregnancy.
"However, I use condoms for my girlfriend and commercial sex workers to prevent infection or getting a second wife. But we won't stop having sex if condoms become too costly for the general public to purchase.
"We are going to have it raw with our girlfriends (partners), disregarding the risk and warning." The government ought to quit making our lives more difficult.
WHO on the security of condoms
According to the World Health Organisation, condoms are a safe and very effective way to stop the spread of HIV and other STDs as well as unintended pregnancies when used correctly and regularly.
According to the WHO, 374 million new cases of STIs—one of the four treatable STIs—occurred worldwide in 2020 among adults aged 15 to 49 who had syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, or trichomoniasis.
Most of these could be avoided with proper condom use, according to the World Health Organisation.
"Condoms remain a vital and successful component of HIV, STI, and unintended pregnancy prevention kits. Using condoms has been a key strategy in the fight against HIV worldwide.
"Over a one-year period, 98% of women whose male partners use male condoms correctly in every sex act will not become pregnant unintentionally.
The WHO stated that "contraceptives, including condoms, are estimated to prevent over 300 million unplanned pregnancies annually."
Sexual workers bemoan
A female prostitute, only known as Comfort, expressed her displeasure over the recent increase in condom costs, stating that it might have an impact on her business, which is her only source of income.
She sighed and blew smoke rings into the air, lamenting how the hardships in the nation were already having a bad impact on her business.
"The majority of clients typically opt for quickies because they lack the funds for long-term sex.
We will raise our prices because we, not our clients, are the ones purchasing the condoms now that their cost has increased.
"I always use condoms with my clients, and I've informed some of them that they can anticipate a rise in our service costs by January 2024. In this hard economy, the price increase of condoms is not funny at all.
"I paid N2,000 for a large pack of Kiss condoms in October, but they are currently selling for N6,500. The substantial N4500 price difference deters people from purchasing it.
An increase in unintended pregnancies and STIs
Doctors and chemists express grave concerns about the price increase, pointing out that it could worsen Nigeria's already high rate of teenage pregnancies and accelerate the spread of sexually transmitted infections, particularly HIV.
Biola Paul-Ozieh, a community chemist who also verified the increase in condom costs, predicted that in addition to unintended births and the worsening of STI spread, the development would quickly result in a shortage of the consumable.
The chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria, Paul-Ozieh, stated that regardless of cost increases, commercial sex workers ought to require their clients to use condoms.
"Condoms are more expensive now than they were a few years ago," she stated. Because of the cost, there's a chance that some people will stop using condoms. When condoms get too costly, some people might stop using them.
"They're not going to use it anymore. If people are unable to refrain from having sex or remain faithful to their partners, then one of the behavioural changes we want to instill in them is the use of condoms.
We have succeeded in stopping the spread of HIV infection in Nigeria. In order to prevent people from unwinding, we must preserve it and expand upon it.
"There will be more unintended pregnancies when condoms are no longer affordable for the average person."
Astronomical increase in cost
According to a market research our correspondent conducted this week, there was a significant spike in condom prices across all brands between September and November.
A pack of Durex Pleasure Me condoms, which cost N1,400 in September, is now sold for N2,500 depending on where you buy them. A pack of Durex Feels condoms, which cost N300, is now sold for N700, and a pack of Durex Extra Safe condoms, which cost N1,100, is now sold for N 2,300.
During the review period, a pack of Durex Performers sold for N1500; however, it is currently sold for N3500.
Similarly, Durex Mutual Climax, which once sold for N1,600, is currently for sale for as much as N3500.
Subsequent research by PUNCH Healthwise showed that the price war did not spare smaller condom brands.
Gold Circle condoms, which formerly sold for between N150 and N200, are now selling for N500, while a pack of Kiss condoms, which sold for N200 in August, can now fetch as much as N500.
Decline in demand
The price increase's spiralling effect is currently severely hurting dealers of patent medications. According to Mr. Maxwell Ndulaka, one of them, the members of the body are concerned about the enormous increase because it is progressively decreasing demand.
"Those who lack the funds to purchase medication will still need to purchase condoms. Condoms are a great seller.
"Compared to other pharmaceutical products, we typically sell condoms more quickly and in greater quantities. However, as a result of the price increase, demand is now steadily declining.
"A large pack of Kiss condoms that I purchased in October for N2,000 is now worth N6,500, while Gold Circle, which I also purchased for N2,000 during this time, is now worth N4,500.
The rise is having an impact on our sales. When you inform certain customers about the updated price, they may ask you to leave and leave. Looking upset, Ndulaka remarked, "It's not just the condom prices that have increased.
In an interview, the patent medicine dealer and a few of his associates bemoaned the increase in condom costs but also expressed disapproval at the surge in the cost of necessary medications, pointing out that it was negatively impacting their company.
Ndulaka expressed regret that Nigerians would rather purchase condoms that allow them to have safe sexual relations than plan their lives, cautioning that rising costs may accelerate the spread of infection among young people and commercial sex workers, who make up the majority of their clientele.
The pharmacists, who previously spoke, predicted that the rise in condom costs would soon cause the product to become scarce, similar to what is happening with prescription medications.
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