ZIMBABWE on Wednesday joined the international community in marking World Condom Day with reports that the HIV burdened country needs 173 million condoms a year.

International Condom Day is observed every February 13 preceding Valentine’s Day which falls on the 14th in order to remind people to use condoms and to promote safer sexual awareness.

Condoms are one of the seven tried and tested HIV prevention methods recommended and so far the only method that provides dual protection even from unwanted pregnancies.

In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Health and Child Care deputy director for HIV and Aids and STIs Dr Tsitsi Apollo said an estimated 2 million STI transmissions were prevented in the last 20yrs in Zimbabwe.

State Media