WomanCare Global Launches Improved Woman's Condom in Zambia

SAN DIEGO and LUSAKA, Zambia, March 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- WomanCare Global (WCG) announced today it has launched the Maximum Diva Woman's Condom in Zambia with partner, Population Services International (PSI), as part of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Swedish Agency for International Development (SIDA) co-funded project, Expanding Effective Contraceptive Options (EECO). The goal of EECO is to support the introduction of new woman-initiated technologies and approaches to meet the needs of women and girls throughout their reproductive health life cycle.

The unmet need for contraception in Zambia is as high as 26.7 percent with female condom use at a low 2 percent among the general population¹. The Woman's Condom is a new type of female condom designed by global health organization, PATH, with the goal of increasing female condom use. The condom is made of polyurethane and unique design features include a small rounded cap to ease insertion and four small surgical foam dots that hold the condom in place instead of the inner ring found in other female condoms.

Representatives from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Zambian Ministry of Health, PSI, partner non-governmental organizations and leading health practitioners attended the product launch event held March 19, at East Park Mall in Lusaka, Zambia. The event, co-sponsored by the National AIDS Council of Zambia and Society for Family Health (PSI's Zambian subsidiary), featured a music performance by brand ambassador and reality television star, Cleo "Ice Queen", who is promoting Maximum Diva and the importance of safe sex in colleges and universities across Zambia.

"The Maximum Diva Woman's Condom in Zambia represents a new option to protect against unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections," said Temple Cooley, Deputy Director of EECO. "Reducing unintended pregnancies and facilitating family planning with effective contraceptive choices can provide health and social benefits."

About WomanCare Global

WomanCare Global is a global non-profit healthcare company founded in 2009, whose mission is to provide reproductive health solutions for women and girls around the world. Leveraging medical, social and commercial expertise, WCG has built a sustainable value chain that enables the reliable delivery of high-quality products and point of care services, resulting in more informed providers and more family planning options for women and girls. WCG's hybrid model redirects financial surplus achieved from sales in developed countries to under-served markets thereby eliminating economic and geographic barriers and increasing impact. More information can be found at womancareglobal.org.

About PSI

PSI is a global non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health of people in the developing world by focusing on serious challenges like HIV/AIDS, malaria, contaminated water and threats to maternal and child health. PSI operates in more than 65 countries and employees nearly 9,000 local experts to help them achieve their mission.

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¹ Ministry of Health aII. Zambia Demographic and Health Survey 2013-14. Rockville, Maryland, USA: Central Statistical Office. Central Statistical Office (CSO) [Zambia], Ministry of Health (MOH) [Zambia], and ICF International; 2014.

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SOURCE WomanCare Global

Related Links

http://www.womancareglobal.org