Microbicides are gels, creams, films or suppositories that can be internally applied to protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV.
However, according to the World Health Organisation an effective microbicide is not yet available.
Women and Aids Support Network Director Mary Sandasi said young researchers should accord microbicides development the attention it deserves.
“Research on male circumcision did not take too long, yet research on microbicides have remained inconclusive,” said Sandasi.
She said there is need to “quicken the pace and conclude the findings since the use of microbicides for rural women would greatly empower them to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS.”
“They are a potential preventive option that women can easily control without seeking the consent and cooperation of their partner. This makes it easy for them to protect themselves against HIV unlike when they have to negotiate for condom use,” she said.
Women in resource-poor settings often find it extremely difficult to negotiate for safe sex, hence the need to come up with “feasible intervention mechanisms like microbicides.”
The director of Kunzwana Women’s Organisation, Dr Emmie Wade, said because women were more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, there was need to “promote women oriented interventions.” “A lot of resources were invested in male circumcision, yet nothing much is being done on microbicide researches,” she said, lamenting the fact that so often women’s issues are relegated to the periphery.
Post published in: News