Sierra Leone has officially launched its five-year National Condom Strategy Programming for 2025-2029, which aims to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and enhance sexual health across the country.

The plan, which was announced during a launch event at the New Brookfields Hotel on February 14, 2025, revolves around the subject “Just Use It,” emphasizing the importance of condoms in preventing HIV transmission and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

According to Abdul Rahman Sesay, Director General of the National AIDS Secretariat (NAS), the plan is a critical milestone in Sierra Leone’s fight against HIV.

“This strategy is a key tool in our efforts to end HIV and address other health challenges,” Rahman Sesay stated, highlighting the importance of leadership in Sierra Leone’s HIV response.

Sierra Leone now has 1.7% HIV infection rate, with more cases in urban areas of 2.3% than rural regions which is 1.2%. Condom use is still low despite the fact that 76% of the estimated 77,000 people who carry HIV are aware of their condition. Only 1% of married women use condoms, while women and men with non-regular partners use them at 7% and 23%, respectively.

Professor Charles Senesie, Minister of Health, commended the initiative as an important basis for national condom programming. He emphasized the necessity of continuing collaboration and providing citizens with knowledge so they may make informed decisions about their reproductive health and sexuality.

Sibeso Mululuma, Deputy Country Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), expressed confidence in the strategy’s effectiveness while highlighting a $4.4 million budget shortage. She underlined UNFPA’s commitment to guaranteeing condom availability and urged continuous financial support for the program’s success.

UNAIDS Country Director, Jane Kalweo emphasized the global importance of condoms in HIV prevention, stating that they have saved 117 million infections worldwide. She emphasized the importance of prioritizing condom access, considering its efficacy in preventing HIV transmission.

The strategy outlines several initiatives aimed at increasing the use of condoms across Sierra Leone, such as creating a national coordination platform, increasing demand through social and behavioral change communication, improving the distribution systems, and emphasizing condoms’ triple protection benefits in preventing HIV.

Sierra Leone’s National Health Sector Strategic Plan for 2021-2025 and Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) align with the strategy’s estimated cost of $10.687 million, which is expected to increase annually from $1.901 million in 2025 to $2.237 million in 2029.

However, a $4.4 million funding gap remains a challenge. The government aims to address conflicts of interest, quality control concerns for imported condoms, and cultural barriers to condom use.