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Fact Sheet
Overview:
PSI is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. that harnesses
the vitality of the private sector to address the health problems of
low-income and vulnerable populations in more than 60 developing countries.
With programs in malaria, reproductive health, child survival and HIV,
PSI promotes products, services and healthy behavior that enable low-income
and vulnerable people to lead healthier lives. Products and services
are sold at subsidized prices rather than given away in order to motivate
commercial sector involvement.
PSI is the leading nonprofit social marketing organization in the world.
History:
PSI was founded in 1970 to improve reproductive health using commercial
marketing strategies. For its first 15 years, PSI worked mostly in family
planning (hence the name Population Services International). In 1985,
it started promoting oral rehydration therapy. PSI’s first HIV prevention
project — which promoted abstinence, fidelity and condoms — began in
1988. PSI added malaria and safe water to its portfolio in the 1990s.
Health Impact:
PSI has an uncommon focus on measurable health impact and attempts
to measure its effect on disease and death much like a for-profit
measures
its profits. In 2007, PSI estimates that its programs directly prevented
more than 156,000 HIV infections, 2.6 million unintended pregnancies,
more than 144,000 deaths from malaria and diarrhea and 19 million malaria
episodes.
Program Location:
World headquarters in Washington, D.C., programs in more than 60 developing
countries, European affiliate in London.
People:
More than 150 U.S. staff, more than 100 overseas expatriate staff and
almost 8,000 local PSI affiliate staff.
2008 Revenue (budget): $372 million (estimated).
Administrative Costs as Percent of Revenue:
6.2% (2006), 13.3% (1992).
Donors:
Major donors include the governments of the United States, United Kingdom,
Germany and the Netherlands; the Global Fund, United Nations agencies,
private foundations, corporations and individuals.
Malaria:
Each year 350-500 million cases of malaria lead to more than one
million deaths, mostly of African children. To prevent malaria, PSI uses
targeted
subsidies to make insecticide-treated mosquito nets and long-lasting
insecticidal nets available to malaria risk groups (especially pregnant
women and children
under five) through public and private channels in endemic countries.
To treat malaria, PSI uses social marketing to make pre-packaged therapy
widely available and affordable through commercial outlets. PSI estimates
that in 2007, these products directly prevented 19 million episodes
of malaria, saving the lives of more than 140,000 people.
PSI Malaria programs
Reproductive Health:
Every year there are 66 million unintended pregnancies and more than
500,000 deaths from pregnancy-related causes. PSI provides the information
and tools necessary for couples to space the births of their children,
improving the health of the entire family. In 2007, increased knowledge
and access to a range of contraceptive methods is estimated to have averted
2.6 million unintended pregnancies and 13,000 maternal deaths due to
complications related to pregnancy and child birth. Additionally, PSI
markets clean
delivery kits and multivitamins with iron and folic acid to women of
reproductive age in several countries.
PSI Reproductive Health programs
Water/Child Survival:
Every day 5,000 children die from diarrheal diseases caused mainly
by drinking contaminated water. To prevent these diseases, PSI uses social
marketing to distribute safe water products that allow families to treat
their water at home. To treat dehydration caused by diarrhea, PSI markets
oral rehydration salts. These products, in combination with educational
communication campaigns, enabled PSI to avert an estimated 3.8 million
cases of diarrhea in 2007. PSI also markets nutritional supplements, such as Sprinkles
flakes which are mixed into children’s porridge or milk to prevent iron
deficiency that can lead to impairment of cognitive growth.
PSI Child Survival programs
HIV:
Millions of people each year become infected with HIV.
To reduce the number of infections, PSI uses a balanced and targeted
approach including the promotion of abstinence, mutual fidelity and
correct and consistent condom use. PSI also implements voluntary counseling
and testing alongside a variety of educational and behavior change communication
campaigns that discourage harmful cultural norms such as unprotected
sex, cross-generational sex and stigma and prejudice against people
living with HIV. In 2007, PSI products and services are estimated to
have prevented more than 156,000 HIV infections.
PSI HIV programs
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