Female Condom Consortium

Presentation byYvonne Bogaarts

World Population Foundation

25 October 2007

Reproductive Health Supplies CoalitionSEMI-ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Structure

– State of the Art– Acceptibility– Obstacles– Potential of female condom– Consortium: partners & plans

• R&D• Implementation in selected countries• Knowledge centre

– Difference the RHSC can make

Female condom products

• Female Health Company in USA: FC 1 (poly-urethane) (approved by USFDA, 1993)

• FC 2 (nitrile) (approved by WHO 2006)

Medtech Health Products in India: V’Amour FC/Dr. Reddy (latex) (approved by India Drug Controller in 2003, not approved by WHO)

Forthcoming

PATH: development of a better product

Timing: will take another 2-3 years

Female Health Company

• US based company • Introduction 1992, approved USFDA in 1993• Production started in 1996• In 2007: sole manufacturer for donor and UN

agencies • Production increased 10x times since 1996• Production in 2005: 22 million female condoms

(12 million for developing countries)• Available in 108 countries

Buyers of the female condom

In 2004• 2,3 million by UNFPA • 2 million bought by USAID• 1,6 million by DFID• Rest donors: KfW and DANIDA• Governments of Brazil, South Africa, Zimbabwe,

France, Kenya• Private sector/NGO: PSI, DKT, IPPF and MSI• Private sector/ shops(P. Friel, 2005)

Global consultations

• 1993 “Potential Role of the Female Condom in International AIDS Prevention”, AIDSCAP

• 1997 “The Female Condom: From Research to Marketplace” AIDSCAP

• 2001 “Technical Update on the Female Condom” FHI

• 2004 Expert meeting on female condom GCM/GCWA

• 2005 Global Consultation on Female Condoms (Baltimore)

Same barriers discussed

- stereotypes on women and sexuality

- pre-conceived ideas

- costs

- lack of funding and funders

- provider resistance

Acceptibility

• No static fact

• Studies indicate high acceptability rate

• Acceptability influenced by: - individual factors – insertion skills and practice- male partners- environment

Potential of female condom

Female Condom is:

+ effective contraceptive

+ protects against STIs, including HIV

+ women-initiated

+ available NOW

=

a real addition to method mix

Potential of female condom

Female condom important in context of:

• high maternal mortality rate

• feminisation of HIV/AIDS

• limited choice infection-prevention methods

• high cost and limited availability AIDS treatment

Female Condom Consortium:Tackle the Challenges

Five partners:

- Oxfam Novib

- World Population Foundation

- Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

- JIPPY Foundation

- IDA Solutions

Plans Female Condom Consortium

R&D: cheaper female condom

Country programme

Knowledge centre

Research & Development

• Female Condom Consortium: development of cheaper product

• Latex

Timing• FCC: May 2008 to be on the market

Quality assurance: international (WHO)

Country programme

• Nigeria: 3 selected states• Malawi

National Advisory Board set up

Main actors:• Civil society: IEC, distribution• Government and UN: advocacy, support IEC and

distribution, financing• Private sector: subsidised distribution and promotion,

sale at affordable price

Country programme

Main areas:

- Registration: national (NAFDAC)

- Procurement, Logistics, Importation, Distribution

- Marketing and Sales

- Monitoring & Evaluation

Knowledge centre

• Data base• Disseminate results country implementation• Advocacy• Enhance collaboration and cooperation

Working for professionals in the field, donor community and policymakers

What difference RHSC make?

• Positive Advocacy for the female condom,

not ridicule it!

• Support ongoing and further R&D

• Funding

Thank you!

Questions, remarks, comments: y.bogaarts@wpf.org