THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH LAUNCHES KISS CONDOM

THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH LAUNCHES KISS CONDOM

The Ministry of Health, together with the National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council, in collaboration with DKT International, today launched a socially marketed condom brand, KISS, at the Urban Hotel.

The introduction of KISS condoms comes at a critical time, helping to bridge the gap left by USAID-supported condom supplies. The brand offers three key value propositions to communities across the country:

• Affordability
• Accessibility
• Quality Assurance

Speaking at the launch, Ministry of Health representative Mr Kalizya Sinyangwe emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to fostering a coordinated, data-driven, and sustainable condom programme. He highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen forecasting, improve last-mile distribution, support behaviour change interventions, and create space for private sector innovation.

Representing the National AIDS Council, Dr Peter Ndemena noted that condoms remain a critical component of combination prevention. He underscored that when used correctly and consistently, condoms significantly reduce new HIV infections and contribute to broader sexual and reproductive health outcomes.

The UNAIDS Country Director, Isaac Ahemesah, reminded participants that although Zambia has surpassed the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, the country recorded approximately 30,000 new HIV infections in 2025. He noted that 38 percent of these infections occurred among young people aged 15–24, the majority being adolescent girls and young women. Research findings indicate that non-use of condoms is among the key factors contributing to the rise in new infections within this age group.

The National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council remains committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health, promoting safe practices, and ensuring sustained access to prevention commodities nationwide.