Prevention Program Continues to Expand
CHICAGO, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
The Female Health Company (OTC Bulletin Board: FHCO) today announced that it
signed a contract with the Ministry of Health of Brazil to provide
four million FC Female Condoms for the Ministry's groundbreaking National AIDS
Program.
Under the terms of the contract, two million units were shipped
immediately. Two subsequent shipments of one million units each will follow
over the next four months.
"Brazil's innovative national AIDS program has been a global leader, and
we are delighted that FC plays such an important role in their prevention
strategy," said Dr. Mary Ann Leeper, President of the Female Health Company.
"The Ministry of Health has created a model program. FC is part of a
comprehensive prevention strategy that includes training, counseling,
outreach, education and promotion for women and men to support and sustain
behavior change," said Dr. Leeper.
The Ministry of Health has conducted numerous studies to ensure
achievement of maximum public health impact. Since 1998, the Ministry of
Health has ordered more than eight million female condoms. The program began
with a very successful acceptability trial which included 100,000 units for
distribution. The order expanded in 1999 to allow 13,000 Brazilians access to
FC. During 2000 and 2001, the Ministry bought two million units each year.
This new four million unit order will allow the Ministry to have broader reach
of its comprehensive prevention program.
"The Brazilian Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring access to all
available prevention options. We know from our experience with FC that as we
expand access to this option, more acts of sexual intercourse will be
protected," said Denise Doneda, the head of Prevention in the Ministry's
National AIDS Program.
During the recent XIV International AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain,
in July 2002, several studies were presented.
In one Brazilian study to evaluate the acceptance and use of FC among HIV
infected women, high rates of use (87%), acceptability (68%) and continuation
(78%) of FC use were observed during the study with a reduction in the
proportion of unprotected sexual acts from 14% to 6%. The study concluded that
adding FC to contraceptive options with appropriate counseling was able to
reduce unprotected sex among HIV infected women, a key target group of the
program.
During the Conference, the Brazilian Ministry of Health emphasized that
the introduction of FC has also helped empower women to negotiate safer sex
with their partners and to become aware of their personal vulnerability to
disease.
"The Brazil program is a wonderful example of the importance of developing
a broad continuum to attack the HIV/AIDS pandemic, including prevention, care
and treatment. These are not 'either/or' choices, we must ensure that
comprehensive prevention programs go hand-in-hand with care, support and
treatment initiatives," said Dr. Leeper. "We look forward to continued
collaboration with the Government of Brazil and to working with them to
replicate their experiences elsewhere."
In addition to the continued expansion of the Ministry's public sector FC
program, the product is also available commercially through DKT do Brasil,
FHC's Brazilian marketing partner. DKT do Brasil markets the product under the
brand name Reality.
UNAIDS' supported studies show that when FC Female Condom is available as
an option, there is a significant reduction in the incidence of sexually
transmitted disease (STD) compared to when only the male condom is available.
Additional published research highlights that incorporating FC into prevention
programs can be cost saving as it reduces the number of unprotected sexual
acts, the incidence of STDs, and the costs related to treatment and care.
FC is the only product controlled by women that helps to prevent STDs,
including HIV/AIDS and unintended pregnancy. It is made of polyurethane, which
is strong and unlikely to rip or tear during use and unlikely to cause
allergic reactions. It is manufactured in a state of the art facility in
London, England.
The Female Health Company, based in Chicago, owns certain worldwide rights
to FC Female Condom(TM), including product and technology patents in the
United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the
European Patent Convention, Canada, The People's Republic of China, Brazil,
South Korea and Australia.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Action of 1995: The statements in this release which are not historical fact
are forward-looking statements based upon the Company's current plans and
strategies, and reflect the Company's current assessment of the risks and
uncertainties related to its business, including such things as product demand
and market acceptance; the economic and business environment and the impact of
governmental regulations, both in the United States and abroad; the effects of
competitive products and pricing pressures; currency risks; capacity;
efficiency and supply constraints; and other risks detailed in the Company's
press releases, shareholder communication and Securities and Exchange
Commission filings. Actual events affecting the Company and the impact of
such events on the Company's operations may vary from those currently
anticipated.
For more information about the Female Health Company, dial toll-free via
fax, 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter company code "FHCO." Also, visit FHC's Websites
at http://www.femalehealth.com and http://www.femalecondom.org .
SOURCE The Female Health Company
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Related links:
http://www.femalecondom.org
http://www.femalehealth.com
CONTACT:
Investors, William R. Gargiulo, Jr.,
+1-231-526-1244, or Business - Product, Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D.,
+1-312-595-9123 ext. 223, or Global Program, Mitchell Warren,
+1-845-353-8298, all of The Female Health Company
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