According to the New Straits Times, Malaysia as one of the world's top rubber producers and a major production line of condoms imposed a nationwide lockdown since last month. 3 Malaysian factories of Karex, the world's largest condom maker that supplies condoms to many companies including governments and as the distributor to aid programs since the start of the Movement Control Order (MCO).
It has been mentioned in the report that, the firm is expected to produce 200 million fewer condoms than they normally do from mid-March to mid-April. Goh Miah Kiat, the chief executive of Karex too expressed that producers other than them are facing disruption and difficulties in getting condoms to market due to transport problems.
“The world will definitely see a condom shortage,” Goh added.
As condom is one of the medical devices, which is an essential service, the company has been permitted to resume its operations with 50 percent of its workforce.
Serious consequences too were mentioned in the report that the shortage of condoms could result in unintended pregnancies, with chances for adolescent girls, women, and families to face devastating health and social result.
