世界的なコンドーム不足の恐れ、新型コロナで生産減

【クアラルンプールＡＦＰ＝時事】新型コロナウイルス感染拡大による製造工場の閉鎖や流通の混乱で、世界的なコンドーム不足が懸念されている。すでに世界最大のコンドームメーカーであるマレーシアの「カレックス」が生産減に追い込まれており、国連は「破滅的」な影響を及ぼしかねないと警鐘を鳴らしている。（写真はマレーシア・クアラルンプールの店内に並ぶコンドーム）
　世界最大のゴムの産地で、コンドームの主要生産国でもあるマレーシアは先月、新型コロナウイルスの感染者数が東南アジアで最多クラスとなったことを受け、全国規模のロックダウン（都市封鎖）に踏み切った。
　世界で販売されるコンドームの５分の１を生産するカレックスも生産活動が制限され、３月中旬から４月中旬までの生産数が例年より２億個少なくなる見通しだという。
　カレックスのゴー・ミア・キアット最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）はＡＦＰに対し、流通の問題で他のメーカーも商品の市場投入が困難になっており、今後コンドーム全体の供給が大きな打撃を受けると指摘。「世界は確実にコンドーム不足という状況を目の当たりにするだろう」と見通しを述べた。
　カレックスは支援プログラムによる配給を目的に、多くの企業や政府にもコンドームを供給しているが、マレーシア国内の３か所の工場はロックダウン開始からしばらく、閉鎖を余儀なくされた。
　国連人口基金（ＵＮＦＰＡ）によると、新型コロナウイルスの影響で同団体へのコンドームの供給は例年の５～６割にとどまっている。
　ＵＮＦＰＡは「コンドームなどの避妊具の不足は意図しない妊娠の増加につながりかねず、さらに未成年の少女や女性、パートナー、家族に破滅的な健康および社会的な影響を及ぼす可能性もある」と指摘。また危険な中絶や性感染症、エイズウイルス（ＨＩＶ）感染が増加する可能性もあるという。
　ただ、工場の操業停止や出入国制限でコンドーム業界が混乱に見舞われている一方、需要は増加傾向にあるようだ。
　インドでは全人口１３億人に対して外出禁止が発表された後、コンドームの売り上げが１週間で２５～３５％増になったと報じられている。世界的に外出制限が続いていることから、カレックスはコンドームの需要は今後増加すると見込んでいるという。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/04/09-11:48）

A global condom shortage is looming as the coronavirus pandemic shutters factories and disrupts supply chains, the world's top maker of the contraceptives said, with the United Nations warning of devastating consequences.
Over half of humanity has been confined to their homes as the highly contagious virus marches round the planet, while governments worldwide have ordered the closure of businesses deemed non-essential.
Malaysia -- one of the world's top rubber producers and a major source of condoms -- imposed a nationwide lockdown last month as infections surged to the highest level in Southeast Asia.
But restrictions on the operations of Malaysian contraceptive giant Karex, which makes one in every five condoms globally, mean the firm expects to produce 200 million fewer condoms than usual from mid-March to mid-April.
With other producers around the world likely facing disruption and difficulties in getting condoms to market due to transport problems, supplies of contraceptives will be hit hard, warned Karex chief executive Goh Miah Kiat.
The world will definitely see a condom shortage, Goh told AFP.
It's challenging, but we are trying our best right now to do whatever we can. It is definitely a major concern -- condom is an essential medical device.
While we are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, there are also other serious issues that we need to look at, he said, adding he was particularly worried about supplies of condoms to developing countries.
- UN sounds alarm -
Karex, which supplies condoms to many companies as well as governments and for distribution by aid programmes, had to close its three Malaysian factories for a period at the start of the country's lockdown, which is due to last until April 14.
The company has since been allowed to resume operations but with only 50 percent of its usual workforce, and Goh wants permission to ramp up production.
The UN is also sounding the alarm, with its sexual and reproductive health agency warning it can currently only get about 50-60 percent of its usual condom supplies due to virus-related disruptions.
Border closings and other restrictive measures are affecting transportation and production in a number of countries and regions, said a UN Population Fund spokesperson, adding they were taking steps such as adding extra suppliers to support urgent needs.
The agency, which works with governments worldwide to support family planning, said a key concern was being able to ship condoms to where they were needed quickly enough -- and warned the poorest and most vulnerable would be hit hardest if stocks run low.
A shortage of condoms, or any contraceptive, could lead to an increase in unintended pregnancies, with potentially devastating health and social consequences for adolescent girls, women and their partners and families, said the spokesperson.
There could also be an rise in unsafe abortions and an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, the agency said.
Even as factory shutdowns and border closures throw the condom industry into chaos, demand appears to be increasing.
Goh said Karex had seen growing demand as people worldwide are confined to their homes, while Indian media reported that condom sales had jumped 25-35 percent in the week after the country of 1.3 billion people announced a lockdown.
- China to the rescue? -
Despite the warnings about a potential shortage, there are positive signs from condom makers in China, where the virus first emerged last year but which has largely managed to bring its outbreak under control.
Major producers there have resumed operations as authorities eased tough restrictions to halt the virus, which has claimed more than 80,000 victims worldwide.
HBM Protections, which makes more than one billion condoms a year, said production is back to normal levels and it is pushing ahead with earlier plans to triple its number of manufacturing lines by the end of the year.
And Shanghai Mingbang Rubber Products said it was ready to ramp up condom exports, which currently make up only about 10 percent of its output, if there is a global shortfall.
If the international market runs into such problems... we will be willing to export more, chief executive Cai Qijie told AFP.
burs-sr/kaf