Report from Ghana says, Condom vending machines will be deployed in the country by the last quarter of the year in a new measure intended to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country.
According to Graphic Online, the machines, to be located at vantage spots, are to remove the challenge arising from human interface with individual purchase of the rubber piece considered crucial in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and infections.
The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has explained that the machines would be an admixture, meaning not a single type for all locations.
It said, depending on the peculiar characteristics of a local population, the machine to be deployed at a location could be either electronically operated or manually administered.
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The Director-General of  GAC, Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, who disclosed this, said the machines would be deployed at places such as lorry stations, stadia and malls.
He added that as part of the commission’s national HIV and wellness policy, it would want the machines to be also available at public institutions, washrooms of ministries, departments, agencies and financial institutions.
Dr Akanbong disclosed this in Accra while responding to questions from Journalists during a dissemination meeting on the 2026 HIV Estimates and Projections.
The estimates provided a comprehensive picture of the epidemic, highlighted achievements, identified persistent gaps and informed strategic actions needed to strengthen the national HIV response.
Background
Providing a background on the machines, Dr Akanbong said the commission, in the past, had condom vending machines which required one to slot in just 50 pesewas for a pack of three to use.
Unfortunately, he said, those machines broke down along the years due to various reasons, including the fact that people were forcefully emptying the machines to take the coins.
Dr Akanbong said the commission was now developing a new condom vending strategy which formed part of its condom and lubricant strategy that would soon be finalised.
He explained that the new machines to be deployed would be more mundane to provide any motivation for their destruction for coins or any amounts in it.
Protection now available
Responding to a question on the non-availability of condoms experienced in the country last year, Dr Akanbong said government had stepped in and had been able to procure some quantities of condoms, which were now available.
A Technical Lead for HIV, TB and Hepatitis at the World Health Organisation Country Office, Dr Kafui Senya, said the new HIV/AIDS estimates were a reminder that sustained effort was required to close the remaining gaps, reduce new infections, eliminate stigma, discrimination and ensure equitable access to quality services for all populations.
The Programme Manager of the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NACP), Dr Emmanuel Akwoulo Agyigewe Teviu, called on stakeholders to confront the reality of gaps in prevention, the impact of stigma on access to services and the need for more integrated people-centred care.
The Governing Board Chair of GAC, Kakra Essamuah, said the government remained steadfast in its commitment to the national HIV response.
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