Brazil faces condom shortage

Every month, Brazil distributes 22m free condoms

The head of Brazil's Aids programme warns an impending shortage of condoms will have serious implications for Aids prevention in the country.

All purchasing contracts at the Health Ministry have been suspended as part of a corruption investigation.

Alexandre Grangeiro said the measure will affect condom distribution programmes run throughout Brazil.

The federal government distributes 22 million free condoms every month as part of its Aids policy.

Programmes are also run by municipalities and non-governmental organisations.

But the current stock of 18 million condoms will only last until the end of June.

Aids in Brazil Over 600,000 are living with HIV or Aids Prevalence rate remains below 1% 135,000 people have access to free ARV treatment Source: UNAids Brazil health 'scam' uncovered

New figures were published Wednesday by the Aids Epidemiological Bulletin in Brazil showing a 46% fall in the number of people testing positive for HIV since 1998.

However, one disturbing trend is an increase in the number of women dying of Aids.

Mr Grangeiro says this is the result of the failure to diagnose the illness in its early stages.

"Women do not see themselves as a high risk group and, as a result, they can discover they are HIV positive much later," he explained.