| From: |
Gabriel ADEYEMO [ profile ] |
| Subject: |
Zimbabwe: Another form of women microbicide for trials
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| Sent: |
Nov 22nd, 2011 - 06:10:51 |
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Source:* Herald (Zimbabwe)*
http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/201111160140.html
Fellow Advocate!
Following the low success rate of the first run, local researchers have
taken aboard another form of microbicide for trials. Microbicides are
products being developed that women could use vaginally to protect
themselves from HIV and possibly other sexually transmitted infections.
Many sexually active men are taking up the free circumcision option being
offered in various centers countrywide. Male circumcision is believed to
reduce HIV transmission rates by up to 60 percent.
A microbicide could be produced in many forms, including gels, creams,
suppositories, films, or as a sponge or ring that releases the active
ingredient over time and could be the most important innovation in
reproductive health since the Pill. Although correct and consistent use of
male condoms has been shown to prevent HIV infection, women often have no
power to negotiate for safer sex hence introduction of the microbicides.
The University of Zimbabwe in collaboration with the University of
California San Francisco (UZ-UCSF) project director Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi said
the trial, involving the vaginal ring is still in its preliminary stages
but is expected to be rolled out beginning of next year and will run for
two years. Dr Mgodi said the vaginal ring contains dapivirine - an
anti-retroviral drug - and can be inserted into one's privates for close to
a month. "The vaginal ring is a do it yourself device inserted on the
cervix and it slowly releases the drug into the cervix and around the
vagina, which interrupts the HIV life cycle. "The method has proved to be
safe in studies done in other countries and we will run it in the country
starting 2012 and for the next two years," she said.
Dr Mgodi also said the trial is targeting women aged between 18 and 30
years because they are more vulnerable to HIV. "Our prime target is married
women as they fail to negotiate safe sex in their homes. Young women are
also affected because of poverty so there are at high risk and those who
are in unfaithful relationships," she said. The project will be implemented
simultaneously in Zimbabwe and other sub Saharan countries including
Zambia, Uganda and South Africa. If found to be safe, the vaginal ring will
complement other preventive measures already available such as male
circumcision, condom use and the Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission
(PMTCT).
The UZ-UCSF is also doing other researches under the Vaginal and Oral
Interventions to Control the Epidemic commonly referred to as the VOICE
study. One arm of the study, involving the use of oral Tenofovir tablets
was stopped prematurely because it failed to prove that it can protect
women from acquiring HIV. "There is no concern about the safety of
Tenofovir gel or the oral Truvada tablet either. In fact, we are continuing
to test them in the VOICE in hopes that we will find that they are
effective," said UZ-UCSF principal investigator Professor Mike Chirenje.
Tenofovir and Truvada are anti-retroviral drugs that prevent HIV from
replicating inside cells.
They were tested in thousands of HIV - infected individuals and are
approved as HIV treatment by a number of regulatory agencies. As a result,
the drugs are now used in a tablet form, in combination with other
anti-retrovirals, to treat HIV in many countries including Zimbabwe.
Statistics show that women account for approximately 60 percent of people
living with HIV in sub Saharan Africa. The peak for HIV infection in women
is between the ages of 20 and 29 whilst for man it is between 30 and 39
years.
More information are available on the link above. Thanks for reading
through.
--
Many Thanks
Yours' in Prevention Science
Gabriel, ADEYEMO
Regional Focal Point - West Africa
Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AID (GYCA)
+234-80-6798-7317 | gabriel (at) gyca.org
www.gyca.org | www.tigweb.org
GYCA is a youth-led global network of over 6,000 young leaders and adult
allies working on youth and HIV/AIDS in 173 countries world-wide. GYCA's
mission is to empower young leaders with the skills, knowledge, resources
and opportunities they need to scale up HIV/AIDS interventions amongst
their peers.
Universal Access is possible; *
*Zero new HIV infections. **Zero discrimination and ***Zero AIDS-related
deaths.***
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