SAN DIEGO, CALIF., Jan. 6, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WomanCare Global (WCG) is pleased to announce the launch of the Whisper Woman's Condom in Malawi with partner Population Services International (PSI) as part of the USAID-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.
Representatives from USAID, the Malawian Ministry of Health, PSI, and WCG celebrated the launch along with partner NGOs, leading health practitioners and representatives from retail outlets that carry the product.
"Whisper is the first product introduced under EECO," said Temple Cooley, Deputy Director of EECO. "The Woman's Condom has the potential to positively impact the lives of women and men in Malawi by allowing them greater freedom and choice in their reproductive decisions."
The Woman's Condom is a new type of female condom designed by the international health organization PATH. The condom is made of a softer, thinner material and possesses unique design features such as a small rounded cap to ease insertion and four small foam dots that replace the inner ring found in other female condoms.
WomanCare Global has launched an intensive medical detailing platform to enhance provider education and distribution of the product in Malawi. Project partner PSI will educate the broader public through a comprehensive communications campaign, including mass media, an SMS hotline service and a network of community-level Whisper brand promoters.
"WCG is thrilled to be involved with a woman-initiated and hormone-free product that offers dual protection against unintended pregnancy and STIs such as HIV," said Dr. Kelly Culwell, Chief Medical Officer, of WCG. "We are happy to work with partners like PSI to improve access to reproductive options for women globally."
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.
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.