To help raise awareness about advantages of ongoing HIV prevention research, the NGO plans to hold public informative meetings across the country.
Definite Nhamo, an AVAC fellow with the Trust, said Zimbabweans should expect to hear more about what new information is now available on HIV prevention tools.
Zimbabwe is set to benefit from ongoing trials using vaginal rings in the region. The ring is made of silicone and slowly releases a drug that is being tested to see if it can protect women from contracting HIV for up to four weeks. Trial results are expected in 2016.
Results of the tenofovir gel-FACTS 001 trial are expected in early 2015. If the gel is proved effective, women will see themselves with more HIV prevention options in addition to those already in practice.
According to Nhamo, it would be in the country’s interests to start having demonstration studies in Pre-exposure prophyxis (PrEP) among adolescents, to test if it works in the Zimbabwean setting.
This is particularly important given the high rates of teenage pregnancies among adolescents. “If Zimbabwe demonstrates that PrEP works in young women, policy makers might consider this as one of the many options for preventing unintended pregnancies and infections. I would urge Zimbabweans to develop curiosity and follow the proceedings at HIV research conferences, so that they educate themselves on what is happening in the region and the world,” said Nhamo.
Joseph Romano, senior scientific advisor with Coalition Advancing Multipurpose Innovations, said HIV injectable preventions for both men and women were coming soon.
“Already there is proof that some of the preventables are safe and what is left is just the regularisation and packaging,” he said.
Though Zimbabwe and other nations would have to be patient and wait a little bit longer, researchers were working around the clock to ensure the HIV preventing measures were adopted at the earliest convenience.
Post published in: Health