[procaare] US Company to Supply 500,000 Female Condoms to India

["Indo-Asian News" <procaare@healthnet.org>]

US company to supply 500,000 female condoms to India
Indo-Asian News Service
Chicago, May 10, 2006
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US health products major Female Health Company (FHC) has received an
initial order for the supply of 500,100 FC female condoms for India's
state-run National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO).

"The condoms will be used in NACO's reproductive health and HIV/AIDS
prevention programmes and distribution will initially be focused on
commercial sex workers in four high prevalence states (Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharastra) in India," said a statement
issued by FHCO on Wednesday.

The order was placed through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

NACO estimated the number of HIV infected individuals in India in 2004
to be 5.1 million, the second largest HIV affected population after
South Africa.

The United Nations Joint Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) reported in 2005
that a significant portion of new infections in India is occurring in
women who are married and have been infected by husbands who frequented
sex workers.

The UNAIDS report highlighted that commercial sex serves as a major
driver of the epidemic in most parts of India.
"The initiation of the NACO female condom programme in India represents
a major milestone in FHC's efforts to bring FC female condoms to the
women of India," said OB Parrish, chairman and CEO of FHC.

FHC and its Indian partner state-owned Hindustan Latex Ltd (HLL) "are
now prepared to enter into formal negotiations to establish
manufacturing capability for FC2 (FCH's second generation products) in
India, thereby further developing Indian opportunities for FC," said
Parrish. HLL was formerly FHC's exclusive marketer and distributor in
India.

"We feel highly confident that expansion of FC female condom use in
India will help in empowering poor and vulnerable women to protect
themselves from HIV and other STDs," said M Ayyappan, chairman and
managing director of HLL.

HLL is one of the world's largest manufacturers of male condoms with
annual production capacity of over 900 million pieces. HLL also
manufactures oral contraceptive pills, intra-uterine devices, blood
transfusion bags, surgical sutures and surgical gloves.

Online: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1695008,00050001.htm