The Female Health Company (Nasdaq: FHCO) announced that it has fulfilled an order for 3.5 million FC2 Female Condoms to be distributed for HIV/AIDS prevention to attendees at the 2010 World Cup. The 2010 World Cup will take place in The Republic of South Africa from June 11, 2010 to July 11, 2010.
The month-long 2010 World Cup, which offers three million tickets to the games, is expected to flood the country with visitors. This event has been targeted as an opportunity to provide critical protection against transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STI's), including HIV/AIDS.
O. B. Parrish, Chairman and CEO of FHC, praised the action stating, "Providing FC2 Female Condoms for the World Cup 2010 demonstrates a commitment to supporting HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. This commitment is particularly critical in light of the increasing numbers of females affected by AIDS." UNAIDS reports that worldwide, 33.2 million people, 15.4 million of which are women aged 15 years and older, are now living with HIV. WHO recently indicated HIV/AIDs is now the leading cause of death among women 15 to 44 years of age worldwide. The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS, a UNAIDS Initiative, is calling for more money in AIDS programs that work for women including closing the funding gap for the female condom and microbicides development."
African nations must take ownership of HIV response to reduce disease burden