3% of Malawian women are currently using female condoms (FC). The United Nations Population Fund Agency (UNFPA) said it is a disturbing development for the southern Africa country.

Sandra Mapemba, UNFPA female condoms programmes coordinator for Malawi, said the statistics contradict sharply with male condoms usage. At least 45 percent of Malawian men use condoms, she said.

The government has intensified female condoms distribution efforts, AfricaNews reporter said. Between 2000 and 2006 about 21 public health delivery centres and non-governmental organizations have joined hands in the distribution.

The UNFPA boss feared that poor female condoms usage could exacerbate the problem of HIV/AIDS in Malawi. She called for concerted efforts among stakeholders to improve the situation.

“There is need to direct more energy towards scaling up FCs distribution in rural areas,” she added. However, an official at the National AIDS Commission Maria Mukwala put the blame on lack of proper coordination and implementation mechanisms.

Source : Richard Chirombo, AfricaNews reporter in Blantyre, Malawi