U.N. head cites condom shortage as factor in African AIDS epidemic

LONDON (Reuters) -- People are dying because the West's failure to pump all the money it promised into world population programs has resulted in a severe shortage of condoms, the United Nations said Wednesday.

In a sharp rebuke to the world's biggest economies, the retiring head of the U.N. Population Fund said her biggest regret about the job was the crippling lack of resources.

"These are large countries which should be doing a lot more," said Dr. Nafis Sadik, executive director of the UNFPA.

MESSAGE BOARD What is the U.N.'s proper role in world affairs?     ALSO U.N. report: Women's unequal treatment hurts economies

"The resources are just not there and especially for the products that require foreign exchange," she told reporters. "Condom supplies are getting disrupted" at a time when demand is soaring.

Sadik spoke at the release of the U.N.'s annual population report -- her last such appearance after 13 years in the job.

Alex Marshall, who wrote this year's report, said the United Nations, the world's biggest international supplier of condoms, had to halve the number it distributed last year because of funding problems.

"We're rolling back programs because of it. It's really tragic. It means people are dying," he told Reuters. Condoms prevent the transmission of the HIV virus, which is rampant in some parts of Africa.

Sadik criticized the big powers for lavishing huge amounts on military campaigns while offering only small change to vital health and reproductive services.

"What is disheartening is the amount is so small. They spend this in the twinkle of an eye on all sorts of destructive activities," Sadik said. "How many millions do they spend in one night in Kosovo?"

Sadik said industrial donor nations had agreed in 1994 to come up with $5.7 billion for the Population Fund by 2000, yet less than half of that had actually come through.

By comparison, the developing nations where most of the money is spent had pledged some $11.3 billion, most of which was forthcoming, she said.

"Some of the major donors are under performing as far as contributions are concerned," said Sadik. "Developing countries are actually pulling their weight better than donor countries."

She said the global demand for condoms was now soaring, yet from Mozambique to Indonesia, the United Nations could not keep up.

"Condom demand is increasing very rapidly all over the world, but particularly in sub-Saharan Africa," she said. "We are unable to supply them because of a lack of resources."

Sadik said the worst offenders were the United States, Germany, France and Italy. Japan was also not doing enough, while Britain was a consistent donor -- but still low.

The Nordic nations and the Netherlands, by contrast, were strong supporters of the fund's programs, which aim to cut family size and slow the spread of sexually transmitted disease, Sadik said.

The Marie Stopes charity, which runs reproductive health programs in 37 countries, said demand for condoms was expected to rise 40 percent over the next 15 years.

"We're already running to catch up. In the future, we're going to have to absolutely sprint to get family planning to the people who need it," the charity's Frances Perrow told Reuters.

She said women in Uganda were even recycling used condoms with a quick wash and dry on the line, such was their newfound commitment to avoiding pregnancy and AIDS.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For more Africa news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select.

See related sites about Africa

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.