CHICAGO, Nov. 27, 2000 – Chicago’s concrete jungle may be worlds away from the African continent, but the two places have something in common. The Windy City is home to the only U.S. company leading the way in HIV/AIDS prevention from a woman’s perspective. 

“Women in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing world countries are at particular risk for HIV infection,” said Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D., president of The Female Health Company (OTC BB: FHCO.OB).  “The Female Condom remains the only product controlled by women that helps prevent STDs, including HIV/AIDS and pregnancy.”

On World AIDS Day 2000, this Dec. 1, The Female Health Company will add another success story in its effort to stop the progression of the AIDS epidemic in the developing world. Namibia, the southern African country with the world’s third highest incidence of HIV/AIDS, will expand Female Condom education and distribution as part of its national HIV/AIDS prevention strategy..

“Together with organizations, such as UNAIDS, and governments of developing world countries, the Female Health Company has introduced Female Condom programs in more than 50 countries around the world,” said Dr. Leeper.  “Namibia is a particularly triumphant story because women demanded the Female Condom, prompting the newly formed Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development and the Ministry of Health and Social Service to collaborate with private organizations and others to implement a strong HIV-prevention program.”

With support from UNAIDS and the Female Health Company, Namibia first conducted a Female Condom pilot program in five regions of the country with the highest HIV prevalence.  Female Condom uptake exceeded expectations with pilot program participants requesting additional Female Condoms.  Most important, participants began to teach their friends and neighbors about the Female Condom, sparking further interest.  The pilot study also found that men were willing and enthusiastic to participate and sometimes initiate Female Condom use.

Planning for the pilot program and expanded national strategy was guided by the recent UNAIDS and WHO publication, The Female Condom:  A Guide for Planning and Programming.  The Guide helps health professionals and community organizations design, implement and monitor the introduction of the Female Condom in a range of different settings.  Reflecting field experiences from projects all over the world, the Guide demonstrates how to integrate the Female Condom into existing reproductive health programs, train health providers, communicate to women and men about the Female Condom and facilitate the use of the product.

Namibia isn’t the only country or Africa the only continent where Female Condom programming is helping to reduce HIV infection.  In Brazil, protected sex acts increased 34 percent when the Female Condom was introduced and both women and men were educated about its use.  Thailand saw similar results.

UNAIDS supported studies show that when the 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 research shows that the inclusion of the Female Condom into prevention programs can be cost saving as it reduces the number of unprotected sexual acts and the incidence of STDs.

Programs similar to Namibia’s will be implemented during the coming year.  On Nov. 10, 2000, the governments of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands announced that they would contribute $76 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to purchase male and female condoms, other methods of contraception, obstetric and gynecological equipment, and drugs for the treatment of sexually transmitted disease in the world’s poorest countries.

Investor Contact                        Product Contact                             Media Contact

William R. Gargiulo, Jr.            Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D.             Yvette Anne Venable

231.526.1244                              312.280.1119 x223                        312.397.6036