Press Releases
U.S. Government Donates 40 Million Condoms to The Ministry of Health.
September 19, 2007. Lusaka
Lusaka – The United States Government today presented the first batch of 40 million condoms donated to the Government of the Republic of Zambia. This is the first time the U.S. Government has donated such a large quantity of condoms through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) directly to the Ministry of Health for public sector use. The donation represents a two-year supply for the entire country.
U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission, Michael Koplovsky, presented the condoms to Ministry of Health Deputy Minister, Dr. Lwipa Puma, at a ceremony held at the Medical Stores Limited (MSL). “The condoms we are giving you today will save Zambian lives. These condoms, and the female condoms donated by the United Nations Population Fund, will enable Zambians to protect themselves from HIV and sexually-transmitted infections,” Mr. Koplovsky said.
He added that the 40 million condoms represented a simple, but profoundly meaningful, exchange. “With this government-to-government exchange, the American people are giving directly to the Zambian Ministry which fights daily to protect the lives of its citizens.”
Dr. Puma thanked the American people for their commitment to improving health worldwide and for their strong support of the Zambian people. He observed that Zambia has recorded tremendous improvements in the delivery of comprehensive HIV care through support from the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). “Today’s donation marks another milestone in the U.S. Government’s support to our country,” Dr. Puma said.
Since 1996, the U.S. Government has been procuring male condoms — socially marketed under the name Maximum Classic — for Society for Family Health (SFH), a locally-registered trust that provides low-income and vulnerable Zambians with high quality, affordable health products, services and information. In 2006 the U.S. Government supported SFH to procure more than 14 million Maximum brand male condoms and 275,000 Care brand female condoms.
The donation of condoms is one of several assistance programs that the U.S. Government provides in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Zambia. Other health programs address issues related to malaria, HIV/AIDS, TB, family planning, reproductive health, and maternal and child health.
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