Italy dissolves parliament, Monti mulls future

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's head of state dissolved parliament on Saturday and opened the way to a February election, with doubts growing over whether outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti will participate in what promises to be a bitter campaign.
Monti resigned on Friday a couple of months ahead of the end of his term of office, after his technocrat government lost the support of Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right People of Freedom (PDL) party.
For weeks, speculation has swirled over what role Monti will play in the election, which cabinet confirmed would be held over two days on February 24-25.
The former European commissioner, appointed to lead an unelected government to save Italy from financial crisis a year ago, has faced growing pressure to seek a second term and earlier this week Italian media widely reported he would do so.
That now seems far less certain, as Monti has had to digest opinion polls that suggest a centrist group headed by him would probably come a distant third or even fourth in the election, expected to be won by the centre-left Democratic party (PD), led by Pier Luigi Bersani.
"The outcome of the election may well not be all that favorable and the question is where that would leave his own credibility and also his reform agenda," a person close to Monti told Reuters.
Italy's main newspapers reported on Saturday that he was inclined not to run, partly because of disappointing opinion polls and partly because of doubts about the quality of the centrist parties that would be using his name.
Another source familiar with the discussions that have been going on between Monti and these centrist groups said he was no longer in direct contact with his potential allies and was now thinking things through on his own.
"It's very open, Monti's looking at all the possibilities and thinking," the source said. "The thing is that without him, the centrist project doesn't make any sense."
Several centrist politicians who had been hoping for Monti's endorsement appeared almost resigned to going on alone.
"Monti would have given more significance to the initiative but it doesn't change things," Ferdinando Adornato, a member of the centrist UDC party told TGCom 24 news television. "What Bersani and Berlusconi are offering is not enough to change the situation from what it was before Monti arrived."
TAX HIKES
European leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso have called for Monti's economic reform agenda to continue but Italy's two main parties insist he should stay out of the race.
"We underlined the fact that as we're going into elections with a non-elected, technocrat government, that government, in the person of the prime minister, should remain outside the contest," Fabrizio Cicchitto, PDL leader in the lower house of parliament said after meeting President Giorgio Napolitano.
Italians are weary of repeated tax hikes and spending cuts and opinion polls offer little evidence they are ready to give Monti a second term. A survey this week showed 61 percent saying he should not stand.
Berlusconi, who was forced to make way for Monti in November last year as Italian borrowing costs surged, has stepped up attacks on his successor in recent days and welcomed his resignation on Friday.
"Today the experience of the technical government is finished and we must hope there will never again be a similar suspension of democracy," he told reporters.
Monti, who has kept his cards close to his chest, is expected to outline his plans at a news conference on Sunday.
Rather than announce his candidacy or endorse a centrist alliance to run in his name, two options widely touted in recent days, he may simply present a summary of the reforms his technocrat government has achieved and those still required.
"On Sunday, he will probably only present a policy memorandum, there is unlikely to be any decision on any more direct involvement in the campaign until after Christmas," the second source said.
This would put flesh on the rather nebulous "Monti agenda" which has been a buzz-word of Italy's political debate since it became clear he was considering staying in front-line politics.
It would then be up to the political parties to commit to or reject the priorities set out.
By playing for time, Monti would run less risk of being caught up in the crossfire of what promises to be a messy and bitter campaign and would still be free to step into the fray later on, depending on opinion polls.

Read More..

Analysis: Mortgage demand too much for U.S. banks, who respond slowly

(Reuters) - Big U.S. banks are hiring mortgage bankers to meet a surge in demand for home loans and refinancings, but they are still struggling to process applications, which could undermine the Federal Reserve's attempts to stimulate the economy.
Since the Fed announced its plan in September to buy up to $40 billion of mortgages a month, consumer mortgage rates have fallen more slowly and by less than they would have done in more normal times.
On average, 30-year home loan rates are down just 0.18 of a percentage point this week from September 13, when the Fed announced its latest stimulus program. Some analysts estimate that in more normal markets, rates would have fallen by roughly 0.31 of a percentage point or more. That could save a home buyer thousands of dollars over the lifetime of a mortgage.
The dysfunction in the mortgage market, which has yet to fully recover after its battering in the U.S. housing bust and subsequent financial crisis, means most benefits from the Fed's new stimulus plan may be accruing to banks instead of consumers.
Banks still committed to the home loan business are hiring to meet increased demand, but fewer banks are committed to the business after the 2007-2009 mortgage crisis pulverized some of the biggest lenders in the United States and wounded many others.
Capacity constraints work in the banks' favor. Profit margins for home lending are more than double their usual level, JPMorgan Chief Executive Jamie Dimon told investors last Friday. The major U.S. banks, including JPMorgan Chase & Co, Wells Fargo & Co and Citigroup Inc, all said mortgage operations boosted third-quarter profits.
Lenders making mortgages say they do not want to hire too many staffers only to lay them off when volume declines. The Mortgage Bankers Association estimates that banks will make $1.47 trillion of home loans this year for home purchases and refinancings, but then just $1.04 trillion in 2013, a decline of nearly a third.
"We are trying to ... not over hire," Andy Cecere, chief financial officer at U.S. Bancorp, said in an interview on Wednesday.
Top U.S. mortgage lender Wells Fargo added about 2,000 people in the third quarter as volume surged. Chief Financial Officer Tim Sloan said in an interview the bank is responding to the impact of the Fed's plan. Chase has increased its number of loan officers by 23 percent over the last year, and expects to keep hiring aggressively, said Kevin Watters, head of mortgage originations at JP Morgan Chase.
But mortgage applications are also jumping, rising nearly 17 percent in the week ended September 28. With demand that strong and no staffers to handle extra business, banks have little reason to cut rates much. In a speech on Monday, New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley acknowledged that difficulty, noting the Fed's efforts to stimulate the economy in recent years would have had a bigger economic impact if consumer mortgage rates were falling more.
Bank staffing issues are a headache for mortgage applicants already struggling with tough appraisals and wary lenders. Many borrowers tell Kafka-esque stories of bureaucracy, where what used to be a 30- to 60-day process has stretched to 90 days or more.
PROFIT BONANZA
The mortgage business has grown much more concentrated. The top two mortgage lenders made 14 percent of mortgage loans in 2000, 29 percent of mortgages in 2006, and 44 percent in the first half of 2012, according to Inside Mortgage Finance data.
Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase are the top two lenders now, and their predecessor companies were the top in 2000.
In 2006, Countrywide Financial Corp - now owned by Bank of America Corp - and Wells were the top. Bank of America last year stopped buying loans from other banks after suffering billions of dollars of losses from its exposure to home loans, which has cut its volume in half and limited smaller banks' capacity to lend.
Bankers are unsure how long the refinancing bonanza will last.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Dimon told investors the mortgage boom will continue "next quarter, maybe for a couple of quarters after that but it won't last for that much longer."
Citigroup Chief Financial Officer John Gerspach told investors on Monday that figuring out how long the refinancing boom will last is "one of the big questions facing a lot of institutions at this point in time."
Smaller banks are struggling with the same questions.
Matt Williams, president of Gothenburg State Bank in Gothenburg, Nebraska, and incoming chairman of the American Bankers Association, said his bank was not adding staff even though its 28 employees were "stressed to the max right now."
Williams said his bank, with $125 million in assets, expects rates eventually will go up, cutting demand for refinancing.
Mortgage demand was rising even before the Fed announced its latest plan to buy home loans, but that announcement immediately lowered bank funding costs. The effect on bank revenues will take longer to show up, because it takes months to process and close mortgage applications.
For consumers, capacity constraints among mortgage lenders mean rates are not falling as much as they theoretically could.
The average 30-year consumer mortgage rate was 3.37 percent, Freddie Mac said on Thursday - about 1.13 percentage points higher than rates investors in mortgage bonds would accept, as measured by the "secondary rate" for mortgages guaranteed by Fannie Mae.
In the second half of 2011, the gap between consumer mortgage rates and the secondary rate averaged closer to about 0.9 percentage point, suggesting lenders could cut rates another 0.23 point. However, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae boosted fees for guarantees by 0.1 of a percentage point in August, meaning the difference may be only about 0.13 of a percentage point.

Read More..

US rate on 30-year mortgage rises to 3.41 pct.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Average U.S. mortgage rates rose only slightly this week and continued to hover near record lows, a trend that has helped boost home sales and refinancing.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage edged up to 3.41 percent, from 3.37 last week. Three weeks ago, the rate touched 3.36 percent. That's the lowest level on records dating to 1971.
The average rate on the 15-year fixed mortgage, often used for refinancing, rose to 2.72 percent. That's up from last week's record low of 2.66 percent.
The rate on the 30-year loan has remained below 4 percent all year, helping drive a modest housing recovery. And rates have fallen even further since the Federal Reserve started buying mortgage bonds in September to try to encourage more borrowing and spending.
Home sales have increased from last year, and prices are rising more consistently in most areas. Builders are more confident and starting more homes. Lower rates have also persuaded more people to refinance. That typically leads to lower monthly mortgage payments and more spending.
This week brought more positive news on the housing front. U.S. sales of new homes jumped last month to the highest level in more than two years, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. And slightly more Americans signed contracts last month to buy homes, the National Association of Realtors reported Thursday.
Still, the housing market has a long way to a full recovery. And many people are unable to take advantage of the low rates, either because they can't qualify for stricter lending rules or they lack the money to meet larger down payment requirements.
To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country on Monday through Wednesday of each week.
The average doesn't include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.
The average fee for 30-year loans was 0.7 point, unchanged from last week. The fee for 15-year loans also held steady, at 0.6 point.
The average rate on a one-year adjustable-rate mortgage slipped to 2.59 percent from 2.60 percent. The fee for one-year adjustable rate loans remained at 0.4 point.
The average rate on a five-year adjustable-rate mortgage was unchanged at 2.75 percent. The fee also was unchanged, at 0.6 point.

Read More..

US home sales rise 2.1 percent in October

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. sales of previously occupied homes rose solidly in October, helped by improvement in the job market and record-low mortgage rates.
The increase along with a jump in homebuilder confidence this month suggests the housing market continues to recover.
The National Association of Realtors said Monday that sales rose 2.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.79 million. That's up from 4.69 million in September, which was revised lower.
The sales pace is roughly 11 percent higher than a year ago. But it remains below the more than 5.5 million that economists consider consistent with a healthy market.
As the economy slowly recovers, more people have started looking to buy homes or rent apartments. Prices are steadily climbing, while mortgage rates have been low all year. At the same time, rents are rising, making the purchase of a single-family home or condominium more attractive.
"Altogether, the report is encouraging," said Michael Gapen, an economist at Barclays Capital. "Our view is that housing is in a recovery phase," he added, though it will be restrained by limited credit and modest job gains.
A separate report Monday showed confidence among homebuilders rose this month to its highest level in six and a half years. The increase was driven by strong demand for newly built homes and growing optimism about conditions next year.
The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index increased to 46, up from 41 in October. Readings below 50 suggest negative sentiment about the housing market. The index last reached that level in April 2006. Still, the index has been trending higher since October 2011, when it stood at 17.
The Realtors' group said Superstorm Sandy delayed some sales of previously occupied homes in the Northeast. Sales fell 1.7 percent there, the only region to show a decline. Those sales will likely be completed in future months, the group said.
The median price for previously occupied homes increased 11.1 percent from a year ago to $178,600, the Realtors' said.
A decline in the number of homes available for sale is helping push prices higher. There were only 2.14 million homes available for sale at the end of the month, the lowest supply in 10 years. It would take only 5.4 months to exhaust that supply at the current sales pace. That's the lowest sales-to-inventory ratio since February 2006.
Prices are also benefiting from the mix of homes being sold. Sales of homes priced at $500,000 and above have jumped more than 40 percent in the past year. Sales of homes and condominiums that cost less than $100,000 fell 0.6 percent.
There have been other positive signals from the housing market. Applications for mortgage loans to buy homes jumped 11 percent in the week ended Nov. 9, compared with a week earlier, the Mortgage Bankers' Association said last week. Purchase applications are up 22 percent in the past year.
Foreclosures are slowing. The number of properties that began the foreclosure process in the first 10 months of the year fell 8 percent compared with the same period last year, RealtyTrac said last week.
And builders broke ground on new homes and apartments at the fastest pace in more than four years in September. The jump could help boost the economy and hiring.
Still, the market has a long way back to full health. Many potential home buyers cannot meet stricter lending standards or produce larger down payments required by banks.
That can be a particular problem for first-time homebuyers. They accounted for 31 percent of sales in October, down slightly from September and below the 40 percent that is common in a healthy market.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Thursday that banks' overly tight lending standards may be preventing sales and holding back the U.S. economy.

Read More..

News Summary: US home sales rise 2.1 pct. in Oct.

SALES RISE: U.S. sales of previously occupied homes rose moderately in October, helped by improvement in the job market and record-low mortgage rates. Sales rose 2.1 percent in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.79 million according to the National Association of Realtors.
INVENTORIES: A decline in housing inventory is helping push prices higher. There were only 2.14 million homes available for sale at the end of the month, the lowest in 10 years.
GAINS LIKELY TO CONTINUE: As the economy slowly recovers, more people have started looking to buy homes or rent apartments. Mortgage rates are at record lows and rents are rising. That makes buying a home more attractive.

Read More..

DrugRisk Announces Alternative to Mirena IUD May Be Available Soon

The Drug Risk Resource Center is the Web’s largest source for information on medical device research, side effects and legal news. Visit http://www.DrugRisk.com

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) December 19, 2012
Earlier this month, Bayer announced it would enter the European market with a new plastic contraceptive implant that can provide birth control for up to three years. The Jaydess device, which was recently approved by the EMA, also faces a decision from the FDA in the U.S. sometime in 2013.*
The news come as Bayer faces growing litigation over the misplacement of its similar Mirena IUDs. The German company has requested the New Jersey Superior Court to consolidate Mirena lawsuits in a court closer to its U.S. headquarters in Middlesex County, New Jersey.**
Anyone requiring surgery due to Mirena side effects is urged to visit the DrugRisk Resource Center or speak with a lawyer about their legal options as soon as possible.
The FDA recently disclosed thousands of reports of patients suffering Mirena side effects. According to the Adverse Events Report on November 20th tracking FDA AERS reports through June 30, 2012, the agency has received more than 45,000 reports of complications among women using the Mirena IUD.
Most often, the Mirena side effects reported were device expulsion, device dislocation and vaginal hemorrhage. In more than 6% of cases, patients required hospitalization or surgery.
Victims of these side effects have already filed Mirena lawsuits against Bayer for their injuries. Ayissi v Bayer Corp. et al, MRS-L-924-12, New Jersey Morris County Superior Court, Judge Stephan Hansbury.
In 2009, the FDA warned Bayer about the marketing of Mirena, which failed to disclose safety risks while claiming the devices could help busy moms with intimacy and make them “look and feel great.”***
Anyone affected by a Mirena device is urged to learn about their legal rights to file a claim. Due to the specialized nature of medical device injury cases, the Drug Risk Resource Center only recommends lawyers who are already handling Mirena lawsuits.

Read More..

US Drug Watchdog Now Urges Yaz Yasmin Birth Control Pill Users Who Suffered a Stroke, Blood Clots, or a Heart Attack to Call the Johnson Law Group for a Legal Review

The US Drug Watchdog is urging any woman who used the birth control pills called Yaz, Yasmin, or their generic version Ocella, and then developed severe side effects occurred, such a pulmonary embolism, a heart attack, a stroke, or other severe medical conditions to please contact the Johnson Law Group immediately at 1-800-996-9900. http://www.johnsonlawgroup.com/

(PRWEB) December 19, 2012
The US Drug Watchdog says, "Most women would have never considered a side effect of using a birth control pill control pill could include a stroke, a heart attack, blood clotting, and or a pulmonary embolism, but in the instances of the birth control pills called Yaz, Yasmin, or their generic version Ocella this is what we are saying. We are encouraging women to contact the Johnson Law Group if they used Yaz, Yasmin, or the generic version Ocella birth control pills, and then suffered a severe side effect like a stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or blood clotting.” According to the September 17th 2009 edition of the New York Times, "The FDA released a warning letter sent in September to Bayer Pharmaceuticals over Yaz & Yasmin. The FDA letter was very critical of the drug maker for failing to highlight the risk factors associated with these birth control pills." The US Drug Watchdog says, "If a user of the birth control pills called Yaz, Yasmin, or the generic version Ocella has had a pulmonary embolism, a heart attack, stroke, blood clotting, or other serious medical problems they should contact the Johnson Law Group immediately at 1-800-996-9900." http://www.johnsonlawgroup.com/
Possible Side Effects Yaz/Yasmin Birth Control Pills

Yaz / Yasmin Stroke or Heart attack
Yaz / Yasmin Pulmonary Embolism
Yaz / Yasmin Deep Vein Thrombosis
Yaz / Yasmin Blood Clots
Sudden Death from Yaz or Yasmin
The US Drug Watchdog says, "One of the biggest problems we have with respect to our drug initiative work, is the average US consumer never hears about a drug recall, or serious side effects related to a specific drug's use. We are attempting to change this very sad fact with aggressive initiatives focused on increasing public awareness, and hopefully suggesting possible help for victims.

Read More..

Le Male Yoga Announces Tips to Help All Males Start 2013 as the Best Men They Could Possibly Be

Le Male Yoga presents some very potent Yoga Poses for Men to Boost Their Libido, Enhance Sexual Energy as well as Control in 2013. In addition to the traditional benefits of Yoga, the male only studio in New York City gives men the opportunity to improve their sex life and introduce stimulants other than pills.

New York City, NY (PRWEB) December 19, 2012
One of the most important activities in a man's life is his sex life. Le Male Yoga in New York City helps men improve just that and make it more interesting by incorporating specific Yoga Poses as well as Pranayama, Bandha and Chakra work in a relevant and exciting way to stimulate energy flow throughout the body.
According to the Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) as well as the European Association of Urology (EAU) approximately 31 percent of American men report having some difficulty experiencing sexual satisfaction, and worldwide, one in 10 men suffers from erectile dysfunction. Men's major problems are:

Having a soft erection / inability to maintain it
Premature or prolonged ejaculation
Low intensity
Self confidence
Performance skills
Satisfying his partner
Practicing Yoga on a regular basis will alter body chemistry by empowering the endocrine glands for more HGH, Serotonin and Testosterone. It stimulates blood circulation, detoxifies the body and strengthens the cardiovascular system, endocrine/immune and nervous systems, which leads to improved sexual health.
Le Male Yoga focuses on improving self-esteem, strengthening the body and calming the mind. Especially Tantric Flow Yoga will teach men to concentrate, re-focus and tap into their sexual core energy, which is considered the most potent form of bio-chemical energy in the body and can be used for rejuvenating the entire physical apparatus, which means improved virility and energy as well as spiritual growth and transformation. Le Male Yoga provides a potent set of sequences for men to heal any dysfunction, increase potency and refine energy.
One of the most powerful and fruitful actions a man can perform is engaging the Mula Bandha (Root lock, first of three locks). For men, the contraction happens in the area between the anus and the genitals, lifting the perineum up towards the abdomen. Mula Bandha can be engaged from 10 to 100 percent and can either be held for as long as possible or used rhythmically engaging and releasing the contraction with the breath. This kind of action can lead to have more control, being able to influence an erection and maintain it without premature ejaculation.
About Joschi Le Male Yoga:
Le Male Yoga is for fit men who aim to initiate a lifestyle that liberates, expands and energizes. Le Male Yoga offers Tantra and Vinyasa Yoga to give fit, in-shape and athletic men a unique opportunity to recharge their body, update their mindset and celebrate life.
Le Male Yoga provides a welcoming and real community for all men - gay, straight or bisexual - who enjoy fitness, communal bonding, socializing & having fun in a safe and judgment-free atmosphere.
Explore Power Flow Yoga for a high-heat, high-energy workout, Tantric Yoga to tap into your sexual core energy and Yogassage to enhance the body's erotic potential.
Whether students are beginners, advanced practitioners or somewhere in between... LMY offers something for every man.
Le Male Yoga offers one-of-a kind classes, workshops, retreats and teacher training programs in New York City and around the world.

Read More..

Nutra Pharma Introduces Nyloxin(TM) Military Strength

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., Dec. 19, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nutra Pharma Corp. (NPHC), a biotechnology company that is developing treatments for Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN), HIV and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), has announced today that it will be introducing a stronger version of its over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, Nyloxin(TM). The new product will be called Nyloxin(TM) Military Strength.
Over the past few years, the U.S. Department of Defense has been reporting an increase in the use and abuse of prescription medications, particularly opiates. In 2009, close to 3.8 million prescriptions for pain relievers were written in the military. This staggering number was more than a 400% increase from the number of prescriptions written in the military in 2001. But prescription drugs are not the only issue. The most common and seemingly harmless way to treat pain is with non steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). But there are risks. Overuse can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, ulcers and internal bleeding. In severe cases chest pain, heart failure, kidney dysfunction and life-threatening allergic reactions can occur. It is reported that approximately 7,600 people in America die from NSAID use and some 78,000 are hospitalized.
Ibuprofen, also an NSAID has been of particular concern in the military. The terms "Ranger Candy" and "Military Candy" refer to the service men and women who are said to use 800mg doses of Ibuprofen to control their pain. But when taking anti-inflammatory Ibuprofen in high doses for chronic pain, there is potential for critical health risks; abuse can lead to serious stomach problems, internal bleeding and even kidney failure. There are significantly greater health risks when abuse of this drug is combined with alcohol intake.
"Our hope is that with Nyloxin, we can greatly reduce the instances of opiate abuse and overuse of NSAIDS in high risk groups like the US military," said Rik J Deitsch, Chairman and CEO of Nutra Pharma Corporation. "Our goal for Nyloxin over the next several years is to be the number one choice that people turn to for chronic pain relief," he concluded.
Nyloxin(TM) is an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever clinically proven to treat moderate to severe (Stage 2) chronic pain. Nyloxin(TM) is currently available in the United States as an oral spray for treating back pain, neck aches, headaches, joint pain, migraines, and neuralgia, and as a topical gel for treating joint pain, neck pain, arthritis pain, and pain from repetitive stress. In addition to its everyday strength formulation, Nyloxin(TM) is also offered in an extra strength formula for more advanced, Stage 3, chronic pain. The new Nyloxin(TM) Military Strength represents the strongest version of Nyloxin(TM) available.
About Nutra Pharma Corp.
Nutra Pharma Corporation operates as a biotechnology company specializing in the acquisition, licensing, and commercialization of pharmaceutical products and technologies for the management of neurological disorders, cancer, autoimmune, and infectious diseases, including Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) and Pain. Additionally, the Company markets several drug products for sale for the treatment of pain under the brands Cobroxin(R) and Nyloxin(TM). For additional information about Nutra Pharma, visit: http://www.NutraPharma.com
SEC Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements. The words or phrases "would be," "will allow," "intends to," "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "project," or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements." Actual results could differ materially from those projected in Nutra Pharma's ("the Company") business plan. The introduction of Nyloxin(TM) Military Strength should not be construed as an indication in any way whatsoever of the future value of the Company's common stock or its financial value. The Company's filings may be accessed at the SEC's Edgar system at www.sec.gov. Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. The Company cautions readers not to place reliance on such statements. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, we do not undertake, and we specifically disclaim any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statement.

Read More..

First Condom/Contraceptive Sales for DKT International in Pakistan

DKT International has just launched a new birth control and safe sex project in Pakistan. DKT is one of the world’s largest private providers of contraceptives in developing countries and brings 23 years of social marketing experience to the Pakistan effort. Early work has included hiring key staff, registering with the Government of Pakistan, and building partnerships with the Ministry of Health and with the Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Program in the province of Sindh. In November 2012 DKT Pakistan made its first sales of nearly 700,000 condoms and 1,000 IUDs to eight distributors in three Pakistani administrative districts.
Pakistan is the world’s sixth most populous country and its population could double by 2050, if the current rate of growth continues. Although its birth rate has been falling, Pakistan’s total fertility rate is still 4.1 children per woman and has remained even higher for women living in rural areas. Maternal mortality remains very high at approximately 276 deaths per 100,000 live births.
DKT Pakistan and its local partners are working together to reach Pakistani couples and more than 6 million women with unmet needs for contraception. The goal is to provide customers and health providers with more contraceptive choices, combined with regular access to family planning training and education.
DKT Pakistan’s program, called JANNAT (heaven), offers high quality, affordable contraceptives for Pakistani women and families, and training for reproductive health service providers. It addresses problems of supply and demand that have kept Pakistan’s contraceptive prevalence rate lower than its neighbors, with a focus on underserved populations. Supply-side barriers, especially in rural areas, include such challenges as the limited number of providers and outlets for family planning products, and the lack of trained mid-level providers of reproductive health services, such as community midwives, lady health workers and lady health visitors.
DKT Pakistan will overcome these barriers by using social marketing to drive contraception demand through mass media and non-traditional communication and by improving reproductive health service availability via regular contact with the country’s primary providers of family planning and OBGYN health services.
DKT International promotes family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention through 21 social marketing programs in 19 countries.

Read More..