If the world wants to reduce new HIV infections by 50 percent by 2015, the United Nations said Wednesday, people will need about 13 billion condoms.
The total needed does not include the other half of expected HIV cases, other sexually transmitted diseases or unwanted pregnancies.
The UN this week escalated a campaign to persuade governments to provide free or low-cost condoms worldwide.
In 2008, the UN said, 2.4 billion male condoms were provided by the United Nations Population Fund, the United States Agency for International Development and other donors.
“That same year, only four condoms were available for every adult male of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the greatest HIV prevalence,” the UN said.
“Female condom availability is also very poor,” the UN said. “In 2009, only one female condom was distributed for every 36 women worldwide. Studies have shown that adding female condoms to programs that are already promoting and distributing male condoms increases the number of protected sex acts. In situations where women lack the power to negotiate the use of male condoms with their partners, access to female condoms gives women an important tool to protect themselves and their family.”
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