CHICAGO, March 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Female Health Company (BULLETIN BOARD: FHCO) announced it has received orders for over 3 million FC Female Condoms from Southern Africa. The Condoms will be used as part of South Africa’s and Botswana’s comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention programs. Additionally, The Female Health Company will be participating in a program to evaluate and improve female condom programming and training in South African government clinics.
Mary Ann Leeper, President and Chief Operating Officer, indicated this reflects the FC Female Condom’s important role in HIV/AIDS prevention programs throughout the world.
The United Nations Joint Program on AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that, at 5.3 million, South Africa has the highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS. Approximately 2.9 million of these are women. Of adults age 15-49, UNAIDS estimates the HIV prevalence rate at 21% in South Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates an adult HIV infection rate of 38.8% in Botswana.
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 communications 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 TheFemale Health Company