United Nations

Office of the UN Resident Coordinator – MALAWI
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PRESS RELEASE

Ministry of Health, Population Service International and UNFPA sign MOU on social marketing of female condom in Malawi

Hon. Marjorie Ngaunje, Minister of Health with representatives from PSI and UNFPA at the signing ceremony of the MOU

LILONGWE, 8 August 2007 – The Ministry of Health, Population Services International (PSI) and UNFPA have signed an MOU for the Social Marketing of Female Condoms in Malawi. The Social Marketing of Female Condoms is aimed at increasing access to reproductive health choices including HIV prevention for women of childbearing age and sexually active youth. It is also, aimed at empowering the women and young girls to be responsible for their sexual life. The official launch was presided over by Malawi’s Minister of Health Hon Marjorie Ngaunje (MP) and her Deputy Hon S Mulli (MP), PSI Country Director, John Justino and the Assistant UNFPA Representative Dr Boniface Kalanda.

Speaking at the launch of the event, Dr Boniface Kalanda said, “I am excited about the opportunities that the availability of female condoms will provide for the Malawian women and young girls”. With high rates of HIV infections, the female condoms is the best intervention towards achieving universal access to HIV prevention services and the best mode to empower women in Malawi

HIV Prevention Program Officer, Robert Ngaiyaye, + 265 9 511786, ngaiyaye@unfpa.unvh.mw

The United Nations’ mission in Malawi is to support Malawi achieve the Millennium Development Goals and contribute to equitable economic growth and poverty reduction by strengthening systems of accountability and the delivery of quality social services to every woman, man and child.