Female condoms in Africa ?
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Source: Gender-aids <gender-aids@bizet.inet.co.th>
I am responding the comments about 'where are the female condoms in Af-
rica'? I am the developer of the female condom and we are working very
rigorously to bring the female condom to women everywhere. You are cor-
rect that we have sold over 4 million units to date to the developing
world, most in Africa and unfortunately significantly less than the ap-
proximate 1.5 billion male condoms available to the developing world.
However, it is a significant start and we are looking to increase the
volume by working with ministries of health in individual countries and
also with Donor organisations to facilitate funding, education materi-
als and introduction programs. All of this has been made available as
The Female Health Company (our Company) has an agreement with UNAIDS
and WHO to make the female condom available to the developing world at
a significantly reduced cost. The focus now is to bring the country
health groups/NGOs/etc. together with Donors to present plans and ulti-
mately to make it all happen at the country level.
Yes, there is always laughing and fun with the female condom but there
is also always the sense that at last women have a method of their own
that is efficacious (95%-98% when used consistently and correctly).
Witness what happened in Zimbabwe when an NGO there petitioned the gov-
ernment with 30,000 signatures of women who very much wanted the gov-
ernment to bring in the female condom. Within 6 weeks of receiving the
petition the Zimbabwe Gov. Ministry of Health - HIV/AIDS group had
found me and within 8 months it was available to these women.
I found it interesting that the writer of the report which I am ad-
dressing stated that the one sample which was pulled, twisted, handled
multiple times still held up and didn't tear! That's the charm of the
female condom - it is strong but it is soft. It can be inserted hours
before sex (the male partner doesn't have to know that it is there,
easily done with a little finesse) and if there is no skin touching
skin during sex, there's no transmission or highly unlikely.
If you would like some samples please contact me via our company email
address (below); make it to my attention and I'll see that you get a
samples, some product information and be put on our international news
letter mailing list for future correspondence.
Thanks for the input and comments,
Mary Ann Leeper
President
The Female Health Company
mailto:info@femalehealth.com
http://www.femalehealth.com
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