CHICAGO, April 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The HIV prevention work of Female Condom developer and manufacturer, the Female Health Company (BULLETIN BOARD: FHCO) , has today been recognized in this year’s prestigious Business Excellence Awards, organized by the Global Business Coalition (GBC) on HIV/AIDS.
The Chicago-based company received a commendation from the GBC Awards judging panel for its community-based programs in the developing world, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, and other countries such as Brazil and India where HIV and other STDs are also a major public health issue.
Following an agreement signed with WHO and UNAIDS in 1996, FHC developed a collaborative program model to introduce the Female Condom to countries in need of new prevention options to help combat the escalating threat of HIV. The successful integration of FHC’s HIV and AIDS prevention programs into countries’ existing sexual and reproductive health structures lies in the fact that the company harnesses the support of Governments, local public health advocates and grass roots networks to help build co-operation and, ultimately, trial and implementation.
The Female Condom’s ability to provide both reliable protection against unintended pregnancy and act as a highly effective barrier to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV and AIDS, has proved to be the key to its growing popularity and acceptability across the world.
It is currently the only proven female-controlled barrier method that can play this vital dual protection role at a time when many countries are facing STD and growing HIV epidemics. Public research shows that when the Female Condom is made available along with male condoms, there is a 30 per cent or more increase in protected sex acts as compared to when only male condoms are available.
Accepting the Awards panel’s commendation, Female Health Company COO, Dr. Mary Ann Leeper said: “The Female Health Company offers not just a product but a whole program. The building of a successful health education outreach program doesn’t come either quickly or easily. Creating a global model from which countries can modify to meet their specific cultural, social and behavioral needs to combat the threat of AIDS has been an enormous challenge for every one involved. It involves collaboration between our partners in the field, with our staff in the UK assuring quality product availability, and the educators, counsellors and outreach workers who are working everyday to help women understand how to protect themselves. The GBC’s commendation is recognition of the importance of the hard work and commitment of all our partners to make a difference”.
The Female Health Company, based in Chicago, owns certain worldwide rights to FC Female Condom(TM) including patents which have been issued in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, The People’s Republic of China, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea and Australia. FC Female Condom(TM) is the only available product controlled by a woman that protects against sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, and unintended pregnancy.
“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 plan 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 government 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 the Company’s web site at http://www.femalehealth.com/ and http://www.femalecondom.org/ . If you would like to be added to an e-mail alert list, please send an e-mail to FHCInvestor@aol.com .
The Female Health Company
CONTACT: Investors, William R. Gargiulo, Jr., +1-231-526-1244, orBusiness-Product, Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D., +1-312-595-9123, both of FemaleHealth Company
