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THE FEMALE HEALTH COMPANY REPORTS:
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DURING THE DURBAN CONFERENCEMary Ann Leeper, Ph.D.011.44.788.764.5797 LESSONS
LEARNED FROM Female Condom INTRODUCTION DEMONSTRATE HOW
TO EFFECTIVELY INTEGRATE NEW TECHNOLOGY INTO PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS Female Health Company president
presents findings at International AIDS Conference DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, 12 July 2000 – At
the International AIDS Conference today, Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D.,
president of the Female Health Company, manufacturer of The Female
CondomÔ,
unveiled a unique outreach model that has resulted in the successful
adoption of The Female Condom despite significant social barriers to
acceptance of prevention methods among high-risk populations in
Africa. Dr. Leeper discussed lessons learned about effective
technology integration during her
presentation, “Bridging Two Different Worlds:
Innovation and Adoption, The Female Condom as a Model.” Dr. Leeper’s presentation focused on the
company’s experience introducing The Female Condom into daily health
practice, as well as how it successfully overcame barriers among
communities threatened by the global AIDS epidemic. “Introducing the Female Condom as a safe and
effective means of prevention is far more than a question of science,”
said Dr. Leeper. “Companies,
governments and community health advocates must understand and address
the barriers to and complexities of new method acceptance and
adoption.” The Female Condom is the only product currently
distributed worldwide that helps women to protect themselves against
HIV/AIDS. It
was first
introduced in Switzerland in 1992 after more than six years of product
research and development. Eight
years later, much has been learned about the various aspects that
influence the recognition of this new technology as a revolutionary
product that can have significant impact in preventing HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Leeper addressed the importance of establishing the science behind the technology, understanding the behavior of the technology’s users, and developing an overall program for integration. “We have learned that The Female Condom must be integrated into existing health programs. A wide range of individuals and organizations – from health providers and program managers to community-based and non-governmental organizations – must be promoted to, trained, educated, and involved.” Educational programs designed by the Female Health
Company directly address stigmas and biases against The Female Condom,
involve men as well as women in educational outreach, and help the media
understand the AIDS prevention technology.
The programs involve all aspects of the health community:
providers, governmental and world health agencies, donors, and companies
involved with ancillary technologies .
“They all need to work together, to be involved and committed to
the long-term objective –increasing protected sex acts and slowing the
spread of HIV/AIDS.” Studies show that women counseled about female
autonomy and the importance of protection use The Female Condom
consistently and show a high level of acceptability. 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, ### William R. Gargiulo, Jr. Mary Ann Leeper,Ph.D. Yvette Anne Venable 231.526.1244 312.280.1119 312.397.6070 If you have any questions or comments, please send them to us info@femalehealth.com |
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