Female Condom – Approved For Use in NZ

Female Condom – Approved For Use in NZ

Lower Hutt, 7 April 2014 – After more than 3 years of campaigning, the female condom is legal in New Zealand. Minister of Health, Hon Tony Ryall has approved an amendment to the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977 to allow for the sale of female condoms within New Zealand.

The Female Condom is a soft, transparent non latex sheath about the same length as a male condom that provides protection against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS.

Dane McIndoe, Managing Director of GLYDE Healthcare says “This is a huge win for the women of NZ and a positive step in helping reduce the risks of STI's and HIV/AIDS. I am delighted to have received notice today that the Minister had approved the recommendation from MedSafe”.

McIndoe continued to make special mention of the huge efforts and assistance of two of NZs’ leading womens organizations. That of Positive Women Inc who represent women and families living with HIV or AIDS in New Zealand, and the NZ-YWCA. Positive Women Inc together with the YWCA began a campaign for access to the FC2 http://condoms4all.org/about-uafc/ more than three years ago and only last month presented a petition to Parliament.

GLYDE Healthcare believes the Female Condom will not only empower women in New Zealand to have full control over their sexual health and well being without the need to negotiate safer sex with their partners but also will provide women with a real world alternative to the medicated contraception options currently available in New Zealand.

Jane Bruning, National Coordinator of Positive Women Inc. said “We are ecstatic that the FC2 is finally to be made available in New Zealand. We have campaigned long and hard for this through the Paper Doll Campaign which is an international campaign to increase universal access to the female condom. The next battle issue will be to ensure they are subsidised so they are not only available but affordable, at the same level as the male condom.

GLYDE Healthcare will have the FC2 Female Condom available for purchase publicly via their website www.glydesupplies.co.nz and selected retail stockists across country from midday Thursday 1st May, being the first day they are legally allowed to be sold in New Zealand.

ENDS

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