March 22, 2002

USAID Supports New Project for Reproductive Health

Population Services International (PSI), with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has launched Project 21, the first social marketing program aimed at introducing affordable and high quality oral contraceptives to the local market in Romania.

The first oral contraceptive to be launched as part of Project 21 is called CORAL 21, a high quality oral contraceptive, distributed by PSI Romania, the only non-profit social marketing organization in the country. The product was officially launched on March 21, 2002 at the Sofitel Hotel in Bucharest, after presentations by representatives from the Ministry of Health and Family, PSI Romania, USAID and the Wyeth-Lederle Pharma, a leading American pharmaceutical company.

"CORAL 21 was developed in response to the high unmet need for modern contraception demonstrated by the high rate of unintended pregnancies; heavy reliance on traditional methods to avoid pregnancy, which have high failure rates; and Romania's very high abortion rate," PSI Romania's Executive Director, Daun Fest, said at the launch ceremony. Fest added that PSI Romania's social marketing strategies "will address myths and misconceptions, as well as gaps in knowledge so that women are motivated to choose modern contraception."

At the launch, USAID's Senior Health Advisor Dr. Susan Monaghan emphasized that "increased access to modern contraception is critical so that women have options besides abortion. Social marketing to hard-to-reach populations will provide a serious attempt to ensure easy access for Romanian women to modern contraceptive services." Romania's high rate of unwanted pregnancy is related to higher rates of abandoned children and contributes to one of the highest abortion rates in the world.

USAID has funded the start-up of Project 21 through Romania's Family Health Initiative. PSI Romania collaborates with other partner organizations, including the Ministry of Health and Family, JSI, SECS, ARAS, ACCEPT, and Youth for Youth to disseminate information about correct and consistent contraceptive use through ongoing campaigns for increased awareness, education, and communication.

PSI operates social marketing programs in countries all over the world and has started work in Romania since 1998. Since June 2000, PSI has received USAID funding to implement HIV/AIDS prevention and social marketing projects for reproductive health.

In collaboration with partner NGOs and medical professionals in the field, PSI Romania will address contraceptive barriers through innovative events, directed to women in both urban and rural areas. PSI Romania distributes CORAL 21 through three pharmaceutical distributors (Mediplus, ALSIFCOM, and Valmedica) to increase distribution of CORAL 21 throughout the 41 counties in Romania.

For additional information, contact: Daun Fest, Executive Director PSI Romania, tel. 230.72.25, fax 230.72.31, e-mail dfest@psi.ro.