"Life Empowerment Initiative": Unveiling a Campaign to Educate about Erectile Dysfunction Issues
EmpowerED for Life: Viatris Launches African Campaign to Address Erectile Dysfunction
In a bid to destigmatize erectile dysfunction (ED) and enhance awareness about men's sexual health, global healthcare company Viatris has launched the EmpowerED for Life campaign across several African countries.
The initiative, which was unveiled in 2025, aims to shift the narrative on ED from stigma to support, encourage men to seek safe, professional medical attention, and address the widespread use of unregulated treatments.
The EmpowerED for Life campaign has several objectives. These include fostering open conversations, promoting early diagnosis and evidence-based treatment, educating healthcare professionals and communities, and addressing the dangers of unregulated ED treatments.
The campaign is structured around four strategic pillars: Awareness, Education, Engagement, and Empowerment. It will use a multi-channel strategy, including digital media, community outreach, professional education, and partnerships with healthcare providers.
The impact targeted by the campaign is significant. ED affects up to 65% of men in some African populations, yet about 85% do not seek treatment due to stigma and misinformation. By promoting open dialogue and professional care, the campaign hopes to improve men's physical, emotional, and relational well-being.
Moreover, it strives to reduce health risks posed by unregulated products and to better integrate men’s sexual health into broader healthcare systems. The campaign’s pan-African reach and involvement of policymakers, health professionals, and media highlight a collaborative effort to advance men’s health equity across the continent.
Arvind Kanda, Head of India and Access Markets at Viatris, stated that the stigma surrounding ED prevents men from seeking necessary medical attention. He emphasized that ED often reflects underlying health problems and can significantly impact self-esteem, relationships, and quality of life.
Doctor Nnabugwu Ikenna Ifeanyi, an Associate Professor of Surgery, echoed similar sentiments, stating that ED is a growing public health issue and is often a sign of broader health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, depression, and anxiety.
The EmpowerED for Life campaign is expected to play a critical role in raising awareness of ED while breaking the stigma around men's health. Campaigns like EmpowerED for Life are crucial for breaking cultural barriers and delayed diagnosis and treatment of ED in many African societies.
Viatris' mission is to empower people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life, including providing solutions to support men's health in Africa. The campaign will be implemented in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and South Africa.
An article published in the British Journal of Urology International estimates that ED will affect 322 million men globally by 2025. The EmpowerED for Life campaign is a significant step towards addressing this growing issue and improving men's health outcomes across Africa.
- The EmpowerED for Life campaign, launched by Viatris in 2025, aims to shift the conversation about erectile dysfunction (ED) from stigma to support, encouraging men in Africa to seek safe, professional medical attention.
- The campaign, structured around four strategic pillars: Awareness, Education, Engagement, and Empowerment, intends to foster open conversations, promote early diagnosis and evidence-based treatment, and educate healthcare professionals and communities on the importance of addressing ED.
- By integrating men’s sexual health into broader healthcare systems, the EmpowerED for Life campaign aims to reduce health risks posed by unregulated ED treatments and improve men's physical, emotional, and relational well-being.
- The impact of this campaign is significant, as ED affects up to 65% of men in some African populations, yet about 85% do not seek treatment due to stigma and misinformation.
- As part of its mission to empower people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life, Viatris is implementing the EmpowerED for Life campaign in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and South Africa, working towards improving men's health outcomes across the continent.
