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Ambassador Honors Benin "Super Wholesalers" COTONOU, Benin, May 10, 2002 - Twenty-two of PSI/Benin's "super wholesalers" of Prudence condoms, described as "the foundation of USAID's condom social marketing program," were honored by the U.S. Ambassador to Benin Pamela E. Bridgewater in an awards ceremony and luncheon in February. A subsequent U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) cable describing the event said the ceremony underscored the growing role of the private sector in condom distribution for AIDS prevention in Benin and recognized the importance of involving women in the fight against HIV/AIDS, as about 80% of the super wholesalers are women. In 2001, due in large part to the efforts of the super wholesalers, said the USAID cable, over 6.5 million Prudence condoms were sold in Benin, exceeding sales of one per capita in this country of about 6 million. Underlining the importance the Government of Benin places on the fight against HIV/AIDS and the role of social marketing in these efforts, the ceremony and luncheon were attended by a high-level delegation from the Ministry of Health. In his welcoming remarks, PSI Country Representative John Justino emphasized the outcome of the effort of the social marketing program: Prudence condoms sold through the commercial network accounted for approximately 93% of all condoms distributed in Benin in 2001. In an impassioned speech, Health Minister Yvette Celine Seignon Kandissounon praised the progress achieved in promoting condom use over the past 12 years, since she herself had helped to launch the first program in 1989. That year, she said, a total of about 55,000 condoms were sold. The Minister also expressed the government's recognition of, and gratitude to, the private commercial sector for its role in making condoms available in all parts of the country. She particularly stressed her pleasure at the number of female wholesalers being honored, recognizing the fact that it takes courage for women to sell and promote condoms. Ambassador Bridgewater, in her keynote address, highlighted the particular danger that AIDS poses for the women, youth and babies of Benin. The Ambassador reminded her guests that young women in their teens are the most vulnerable group in Benin, and that about 20% of infected women transmit the virus to their newborns if they become pregnant. To close, the Ambassador thanked all of the wholesalers for their significant contribution to the prevention of HIV/AIDS, particularly the female sellers. The Ambassador acknowledged that it's not easy for a woman to be seen selling condoms in Benin, and expressed her personal gratefulness for the wholesalers' efforts and courage. — By David J. Olson, Senior Manager for Public Affairs, PSI/Washington
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