September 15, 2015
PRESS RELEASE
Health and Rights Advocates Dance4Demand in Support of Female Condoms
September 16, 2015–Sexual and reproductive health and rights advocates around the world and in Nigeria will Dance4Demand this Global Female Condom Day (GFCD) to call for increased global and national investment in female condoms based on widespread demand. Today Association for Reproductive & Family Health (ARFH) and Education as A Vaccine (EVA) will hold various advocacy events and visits to Key stakeholders in reproductive health including women’s groups to highlight this unsung and highly effective sexual health tool. The female condom is the only HIV, sexually transmitted infection (STI) and pregnancy-prevention option that is woman initiated and currently available. Though classified as a “female” condom, it offers people of any gender who engage in receptive sex a way to take greater control of their health. Despite the effectiveness of female condoms and the public health need, many people cannot access them in their communities.
With a population prevalence of 3.4 per cent according to the National HIV/AIDS & Reproductive Health Survey conducted in 2012, Female condoms are urgently needed to keep Nigerians healthy as Nigeria carries the second highest HIV/AIDS burden in the world with 3.5 million Nigerians living with the disease in 2014.
“Women and men across the globe and right here at home are dancing in parks, at community centres, schools, clinics and even the offices of public officials to clearly and categorically show their demand for female condoms. Today we put to rest the question of whether people want female condoms. It is clear that in fact we demand access to female condoms!” say The Female Condom Advocacy Project partners in Nigeria. “We urge policymakers to invest in female condom education, programming and distribution to meet the local need and demand.”
About
The Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) is a leading indigenous Non-governmental Organization in Nigeria working innovatively in the areas of HIV/AIDS, Family Planning, Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health, Care and Support services for Orphans and Vulnerable Children since 1989. ARFH is a Principal Recipient to the Global Fund project on Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, and a Sub-Recipient to the Global Fund on Malaria. With support from Rutgers, Netherlands, through the Universal Access to Female Condoms (UAFC) Joint Programme, ARFH is implementing the Phase II of The Female Condom Advocacy Project in Nigeria. Other collaborating partners on the project include: Society for Family Health (SFH), Oxfam Nigeria, UNFPA, Education As a Vaccine (EVA) and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH).
Education as a Vaccine is a non-profit organization created in 2000 to improve the health and development of children and young people. EVA envisions a Nigeria where children and young people reach their full potentials and work to build and implement innovative and sustainable mechanism for improved quality of life for vulnerable children and young people. Using child and youth friendly approaches the organization strengthens the capacities of children, young people and other stakeholders to facilitate and sustain social change in the area of health, protection and education through integrated programming
About GFCD
GFCD is an annual day of education and advocacy dedicated to increasing awareness, accessibility and use of female condoms worldwide. Through local actions, individuals and organizations advance the global movement for female condoms by participating in this international day of action. GFCD is a collaborative effort of the National Female Condom Coalition (NFCC) and the Universal Access for Female Condoms (UAFC) Joint Programme. For more information, visit www.FemaleCondomDay.org. Connect with GFCD social media through #Dance4Demand, #GFCD2015, and #FemaleCondomng.
MEDIA CONTACT: Esther Agbarakwe
Tel: 09036772260