Women in South Africa may be experiencing a decrease in the risk of HIV infection as a simple vaginal gel could be used to mitigate the risk of infection, according to researchers from Centre for the Aids Program of Research in South Africa or Caprisa.
The researchers said that the gel containing an Aids drug called tenofovir has decreased the number of infection among 889 women by 50 percent upon using the gel for one year. Also, the gel decreased the number of infection among women by 39 percent as the gel was used after two and a half years.
According to Salim Abdool Karim, one of the two leading co-researchers, 889 women from the coastal city of Durban and a remote village willingly used the suggested gels. The results showed 98 women are infected. There were 38 women infected with the use of tenofovir while 60 women were infected to those who got placebos.
Dr. Karim said, “We showed a 39% lower incidence of HIV in the tenofovir group.”
This would spell out a first in the medical practice. The efficiency of anti-microbial gels is about to be proven whether it would be an effective preventive measure for HIV infection.
According to Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “It’s the first time we’ve ever seen any microbicide give a positive result that you could say was statistically significant.”
The sub-Saharan Africa is gravely infected with the dreaded disease, as around 60 percent of the infected citizens are women. That is why there is a dire need of an accessible and convenient way to prevent the HIV from spreading.
Mr. Michel Sidibe, executive director of UNAids said, “We are giving hope to women. For the first time we have seen results for a woman-initiated and controlled HIV prevention option.” Furthermore, he added, “This microbicide would be powerful option for the prevention revolution and help us break the trajectory of the Aids epidemic”.
Dr Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization, said, “We look forward in seeing these results confirmed. Once they have been shown to be safe and effective, WHO will work with countries and partners to accelerate access to these products.”
UN agencies are welcoming the result planning to consult experts and bring them to South Africa next month to discuss matters regarding the steps to follow for the promotion of the said product.
