 |
| Daviripine Vaginal Ring |
RESULTS of a recently
conducted study in the Sub-Saharan region, involving 15 trial
sites in Malawi, Uganda, South Africa and Zimbabwe, known as A Study to Prevent
Infection with a Ring for Extended Use (ASPIRE), has shown that Anti-Retroviral
drugs (ARVs) can protect African women from primary Human Immune Virus (HIV) by
27%, through a virginal davirapine ring
for women.
The study was conducted by the
Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) and was led by Dr. Jared Baeten (University of
Washington/USA) and Dr. Thesla Palanee-Phillips (Wits Reproductive Health &
HIV Institute/SA).
The ring is
meant to be placed into the women’s vagina and would produce anti-retroviral
drug, preventing women and sexually active young girls from obtaining HIV/AIDS when sleeping with an infected
partner.
According to the
medical officer/sub-investigator of the Aspire study, with the University of
California San Francisco (UCSF) and also with the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Dr
Portia Hunidzarira, there were 2,629 women
enrolled at 15 sites in 4 countries, that include: 272 in Malawi (2 sites) 1,426
in South Africa (9 sites) 253 in Uganda (1 site) 678
in Zimbabwe (3 sites).
Addressing Bulawayo
journalists during a health café meeting recently, Dr Hunidzarira hinted on a
number of methods that women can use to protect themselves against HIV.These
include Oral PrEP,vaginal film, vaginal gel, injectable, vaccines and the
current vaginal davirapine ring.
“The vaginal ring is made
of silicon flexible material and it contains the dapirivine drug inside it. It
should be placed inside the women’s vagina, in the cervix and should be changed
every month. The constant use of this ring will prevent women from getting HIV/AIDS
when sleeping with an infected partner. The anti-retroviral drug in this ring will
block the virus from getting through to the women and there are no side effects
from the use of this ring.
“As you know women’s
preferences are not the same, just as women have choices in contraception, they
should have choices of HIV prevention too, so the ring gives them that option
too” said Dr Hunidzarira.
Here in Zimbabwe, the
Study was carried out from the period of June 2012 to August 2015 at Zengeza,
Seke South and Spillway areas in Harare. Women in Africa, especially young
women, have been hardest hit by HIV and they desperately need HIV prevention
tools that are safe, effective and easy to use.
Studies throughout the
world have proven that daily use of an ARV tablet, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
(PrEP) is effective in preventing HIV, but however PrEP studies among African
women did not have similar results due to low adherence (obedience) to the
products (gels or tablets)
“In
MTN-020/Aspire study, we discovered that the ring containing the daviripine
drug can help protect African women from HIV by 27%.The risk of contracting HIV
was reduced by a third overall and by half amongst those aged 22. The HIV
protection was greater in groups with evidence of better adherence to the davirapine
ring use,” said Dr Hunidzarira.
Chronicle
interviewed various women to gain their views about this new innovation which
is about to pass the trial stage and to be used in the country and many had
mixed feelings about it.
“It is quite
interesting for us married women, if we could have such ring. For me especially,
my husband does a lot of travelling, in and around countries, I can use such
the ring to protect myself from getting HIV from him, for we have heard many
stories of women getting infected by their partners. The very fact that it
doesn’t have side effects, I can have it no problem. If our young girls can
have these rings, none would be affected by HIV,” said Sikhangele Moyo.
One sex worker
operating in the City Centre, who declined to be named, was excited about the
innovation saying it makes her job much easier in terms of risk reduction.
“My job involves
a lot risks in being infected by HIV, or getting infected with an STD. I can
tell you I have tested HIV negative and I have kept my status like that for a
long time, even though I’m a sex worker it is very possible to remain negative.
If we can have such innovations coming through, it will make my job even easier
so that I fend for my children very well,” said the sex worker.
The introduction
of this ring which has passed the trial stage might end up being used by
Zimbabwean women and this will be a mile stone for the country, as it fight to
eliminate and end HIV/AIDS by 2030.The UNAIDS targets of ending AIDS by 2030
suggests that there should be 90% reduction in stigma and discrimination of
people living with HIV/AIDS, 90% reduction of new infections and 90% reduction
in AIDS related deaths.
Speaking during
the Bulawayo journalists National Aids Council (NAC) update meeting, the
provincial AIDS coordinator Sinatra Nyathi, revealed that the nation is geared
on its mission to end HIV/AIDS by 2030.
“Looking at the 2020 Treatment target which is
approaching fast, we are saying 90% of all the people living with HIV will know
their status. To reach this target in Zimbabwe, there is a need to find and
test more than 650 000 people.
“90% of all the
people diagnosed with HIV will receive sustained ART.To reach this target there
is need to initiate an additional 550 000 on ART in Zimbabwe.
“90% of all
people receiving ART will have durable suppression. To reach this, the target
1.1 million people on ART must adhere to their treatment.
“So there is
need for programme to be put on a fast track mode, adequate testing facilities so
as to scale up testing and mobilise adequate resources for ART,” said Nyathi.
Meanwhile NAC is
embarking a program known as ‘Dreams’ that is targeted at empowering vulnerable
girls in Bulawayo. According to NAC, many innovations, such as HIV Self Testing
on trial, Davirapine ring on trial, Door to Door testing programs might be rolling
out soon, throughout the country preceding to the 2030 goal of ending HIV/AIDS
in Zimbabwe.
END//
Comments
Post a Comment